Good
afternoon esteemed members of the Senate, families, friends and distinguished
guests. It is a great honor to gavel this opening session to order.

I welcome you to the first day of the 71st
session of the Nevada Legislature and to the first session of the “true” new
millennium. This is a historic time for Nevada government. As we move into the
21st century, on the heels of the latest census¾showing Nevada as the
fastest growing state in the country¾we have many opportunities as well as many challenges.

Our
State is offering an entrepreneurial business climate, affordable housing and a
quality of life that has become a magnet for people seeking a better life. But
as all good things¾they should not be taken for
granted.

It
will not be long before our sleeves are rolled up and we begin the difficult
work ahead of us. This session, the people of the State of Nevada have
entrusted this body, along with the distinguished members of the Assembly, with
the faith to lead them into a session that will benefit all Nevadans. The
citizens of this great State are looking to us to find reasonable solutions.
And the challenges are many.

The
signs of those challenges have already manifested themselves in the form of a
potentially severe downturn in the nation’s economy and in the form of a
crippling energy crisis that has manifested itself only a few miles from where
we stand.

Amidst
our dealings with these issues, we must also face the challenges that continue
to present themselves by the sustained growth of our State… along with the
accompanying process of drawing new Congressional and State Legislative
Districts.

As we
begin this significant session, it is my hope that we bear in mind that the
gift of public service is priceless. Our responsibility is to find solutions
that benefit Nevadans today and Nevadans of the future; realizing that the
choices we make this session will affect generations of Nevadans in the years
to come.

I look forward to working with each of you and I am confident we
will work together to meet the expectations of the citizens of our State as we
debate the challenges and opportunities of Nevada’s future.

Prayer
by the Chaplain, Father Frank Murphy.

Creator
of all that lives and breathes, eternal only first and last, undaunted spirit,
loving God, faithful Yahweh by whatever name each of our faith traditions
honors and calls upon You. We
acknowledge and cherish Your vibrant presence here amongst us today at this
opening session of the Nevada Legislature.

Come; bestow on these Senators, Your dutiful
servants, those precious gifts of wisdom and compassion. Guide them in their
deliberations that the rights of all may prevail over the privileges for the
few; strengthen them to persevere in respecting life in all its forms—acknowledging
that all that breathes is gift from a loving and provident creator and to be
treated with dignity; grant them compassionate hearts that give preference to
genuine human needs before the rigidities of the law; with Your provident care,
keep them safe in their travels and watch over their families with Your
protective hand.

Expand
their vision that they may work together in harmony, respecting each other’s
views and help to make this great State of Nevada a model for justice, peace
and prosperity.

Amen Shalom.

REMARKS
FROM THE FLOOR

President
Hunt:

We are delighted to have the
Detachment Fourth Force Reconnaissance Company of Reno, Nevada, whose members
include the following: Instructor, Sergeant Herb Pintsch; Sergeant Robin Amaya,
Sergeant Angela Denney, Sergeant John Siklinski and Corporal Patrick Tobey.
They will present the colors.

Presentation
of the Colors by Honor Guard, Detachment Fourth Force Reconnaissance Company of
Reno, Nevada.

Madam
President announced that if there were no objections, the Senate would recess
subject to the call of the Chair.

Senate in recess at 12:21 p.m.

SENATE IN SESSION

At 12:26 p.m.

President Hunt presiding.

Quorum present.

MOTIONS,
RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES

Madam President requested Mrs. Claire J. Clift to serve as
temporary Secretary of the Senate and Mr. Charles P. Welsh to serve as
temporary Sergeant at Arms.

Madam
President instructed the temporary Secretary to call the roll of the holdover
Senators.

Roll called.

All holdover Senators present.

Madam President appointed Senators Townsend,
James and Mathews as a temporary Committee on Credentials.

Madam President announced that if there were
no objections the Senate would recess subject to the call of the Chair while
credentials of the newly-elected Senators were examined by the temporary
Committee on Credentials.

Senate in recess at 12:29 a.m.

SENATE IN SESSION

At 12:33 p.m.

President Hunt presiding.

Quorum present.

REPORTS
OF COMMITTEES

Madam President:

Your temporary Committee on Credentials has
had the credentials of the respective Senators‑elect under consideration
and begs leave to report that the following persons have been and are duly
elected and qualified members of the Senate of the Seventy-first Session of the
Legislature of the State of Nevada: Senators Mike McGinness, Joseph M. Neal,
Jr., Ann O'Connell, William J. Raggio, Raymond D. Rawson, Dean A. Rhoads,
Michael A. Schneider, Raymond C. Shaffer, Dina Titus and Valerie Wiener.

Randolph
J. Townsend

Mark
A. James

Bernice Mathews

MOTIONS,
RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES

Senator Townsend moved that the report of the temporary Committee
on Credentials be adopted.

Motion carried.

President Hunt announced that if there were
no objections, the Senate would recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Senate
in recess at 12:36 p.m.

SENATE IN SESSION

At 12:40 p.m.

President Hunt presiding.

Quorum present.

Madam President appointed Senators Amodei,
Porter and Carlton to escort Chief Justice A. William Maupin of the Supreme
Court of Nevada to the rostrum to administer the oath of office to the
newly-elected Senators.

Chief Justice Maupin administered the oath
of office to the newly-elected Senators.

President Hunt announced that if there were
no objections, the Senate would recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Senate
in recess at 12:45 p.m.

SENATE IN SESSION

At 12:57 p.m.

President Hunt presiding.

Quorum present.

Senator
Care moved that the Chief Justice be extended a unanimous vote of thanks for
administering the oath.

Motion carried unanimously.

Madam President instructed the temporary Secretary to call the
roll of the Senators.

Roll
called.

All Senators present.

Madam President declared that nominations were in order for
President pro Tempore.

Madam President announced that if there were
no objections, the Senate would recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Senate in recess at 1:07 p.m.

SENATE IN SESSION

At 1:45 p.m.

President Hunt presiding.

Quorum present.

A committee from the Assembly composed of
Assemblywoman Giunchigliani, Assemblymen Manendo and Carpenter appeared before
the bar of the Senate and announced that the Assembly was organized and ready
for business.

Senator McGinness reported that his committee had informed the
Assembly that the Senate is organized and ready for business.

Senator O’Connell reported that her
committee had informed the Governor that the Senate is organized and ready for
business.

Madam President announced that if there were
no objections, the Senate would recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Senate in recess at 2:08 p.m.

SENATE IN SESSION

At 2:30 p.m.

President Hunt presiding.

Quorum present.

MOTIONS,
RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES

By Senators Raggio
and Titus:

Senate
Resolution No. 1—Adopting the Standing Rules of the
Senate for the 71st session of the Legislature.

Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada,
That the Senate Standing Rules as amended by the 70th session are adopted, with
the following changes, as the Standing Rules of the Senate for the 71st session
of the Legislature:

I. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

Duties of Officers

Rule No. 1.President.

The President shall take the chair and call
the Senate to order precisely at the hour appointed for meeting, and if a
quorum is present shall cause the Journal of the preceding day to be read. He
shall preserve order and decorum, and in case of any disturbance or disorderly
conduct within the Senate Chamber, shall order the Sergeant at Arms to suppress
it, and may order the arrest of any person creating any disturbance within the
Senate Chamber. He may speak to points of order in preference to members,
rising from his seat for that purpose, and shall decide questions of order
without debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate by two members, on which
appeal no member may speak more than once without leave of the Senate. He shall
sign all acts, addresses and joint resolutions, and all writs, warrants and
subpoenas issued by order of the Senate; all of which must be attested by the
Secretary. He has general direction of the Senate Chamber.

Rule No. 2.President pro
Tem.

The President pro Tem has all the power and
shall discharge all the duties of the President during his absence or inability
to discharge the duties of his office. In the absence or inability of the
President pro Tem to discharge the duties of the President’s office, the
Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations shall preside.
In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman of the Committee on
Legislative Affairs and Operations shall preside. In the absence of the Vice
Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations, the Senate
shall elect one of its members as the presiding officer for that occasion.

Rule No. 3.Secretary.

1. The
Secretary of the Senate is elected by the Senate, and shall:

(a) Interview and recommend to the Committee
on Legislative Affairs and Operations persons to be considered for employment
to assist the Secretary.

(b) See that these employees perform their
respective duties.

(c) Administer the daily business of the
Senate, including the provision of secretaries to its committees.

(d) Unless otherwise ordered by the Senate,
transmit at the end of each working day those bills and resolutions upon which
the next action is to be taken by the Assembly.

2. The
Secretary is responsible to the Majority Leader.

Rule No. 4.Sergeant at
Arms.

1. The
Sergeant at Arms shall attend the Senate during its sittings, and execute its
commands and all process issued by its authority. He must be sworn to keep the
secrets of the Senate.

2. The
Sergeant at Arms shall:

(a) Superintend the upkeep of the Senate’s
Chamber, private lounge, and meeting rooms for committees.

(b) Interview and recommend to the Committee
on Legislative Affairs and Operations persons to be considered for employment
to assist the Sergeant at Arms.

3. The
Sergeant at Arms is responsible to the Majority Leader.

Rule No. 5.Assistant
Sergeant at Arms.

The Assistant Sergeant at Arms shall be
doorkeeper and shall preserve order in the Senate Chamber and shall assist the
Sergeant at Arms. He shall be sworn to keep the secrets of the Senate.

Rule No. 6.Reserved.

The
next rule is 10.

II. SESSIONS AND MEETINGS

Rule No. 10.Time of
Meeting.

The President shall call the Senate to order
each day of sitting at 11:00 o’clock a.m., unless the Senate has adjourned to
some other hour.

Rule No. 11.Call of
Senate—Moved by Three Members.

A Call of the Senate may be moved by three
Senators, and if carried by a majority of all present, the Secretary shall call
the roll and note the absentees, after which the names of the absentees shall
again be called over. The doors shall then be closed and the Sergeant at Arms
directed to take into custody all who may be absent without leave, and all
Senators so taken into custody shall be presented at the bar of the Senate for
such action as to the Senate may seem proper.

Rule No. 12.Absence—Leave
Required.

No Senator shall absent himself from the
service of the Senate without leave, except in case of accident or sickness,
and if any Senator or officer shall so absent himself his per diem shall not be
allowed him.

Rule No. 13.Open
Meetings.

1. Except
as provided in the Constitution of the State of Nevada and in subsection 2 of
this rule, all meetings of the Senate and its committees must be open to the
public.

2. A
Senate committee meeting may be closed to consider the character, alleged
misconduct, professional competence, or physical or mental health of a person.

The
next rule is 20.

III. DECORUM AND DEBATE

Rule No. 20.Points of
Order.

1. If
any Senator, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the Senate,
the President shall, or any Senator may, call him to order. If a Senator is so
called to order, he shall not proceed without leave of the Senate. If such
leave is granted, it must be upon the motion, “That he be allowed to proceed in
order,” and the Senator shall confine himself to the question under
consideration and avoid personality.

2. Every
decision of points of order made by the President is subject to appeal, and a
discussion of a question of order may be allowed only upon the appeal of two
Senators. In all cases of appeal, the question must be, “Shall the decision of
the Chair stand as the judgment of the Senate?”

Rule No. 21.Breaches of
Decorum.

1. In
cases of breaches of decorum or propriety, any Senator, officer or other person
is liable to such censure or punishment as the Senate may deem proper.

2. If
any Senator is called to order for offensive or indecorous language or conduct,
the person calling him to order shall report the offensive or indecorous
language or conduct to the presiding officer. No member may be held to answer
for any language used on the floor of the Senate if business has intervened
before exception to the language was taken.

3. Indecorous
conduct or boisterous or unbecoming language is not permitted in the Senate
Chamber.

The
next rule is 30.

IV. QUORUM, VOTING, ELECTIONS

Rule No. 30.Recorded
Vote—Three Required to Call For.

1. A
recorded vote must be taken upon final passage of a bill or joint resolution,
and in any other case when called for by three members. Every Senator within
the bar of the Senate shall vote “aye” or “no” or record himself as “not
voting,” unless excused by unanimous vote of the Senate.

2. The
votes and names of those absent or recorded as “not voting” and the names of
Senators demanding the recorded vote must be entered [on]in the Journal.

Rule No. 31.President to
Decide—Tie Vote.

A question is lost by a tie vote, but when
the Senate is equally divided on any question except the passage of a bill or
joint resolution, the President may give the deciding vote.

Rule No. 32.Manner of
Election—Voting.

1. In
all cases of election by the Senate, the vote must be taken viva voce. In other
cases, if a vote is to be recorded, it may be taken by oral roll-call or by
electronic recording.

2. When
a recorded vote is taken, no Senator may:

(a) Vote except when at his seat;

(b) Vote upon any question in which he is in
any way personally or directly interested;

(c) Explain his vote or discuss the question
while the voting is in progress; or

(d) Change his vote after the result is
announced.

3. The
announcement of the result of any vote must not be postponed.

The
next rule is 40.

V. LEGISLATIVE BODIES

Rule No. 40.Standing
Committees.

1. Except
as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the standing committees of the Senate
and their respective jurisdiction for the reference of bills and resolutions
are as follows:

(b) Finance, seven members, with
jurisdiction over measures primarily affecting chapters 286 and 387 of NRS,
appropriations, operating and capital budgets, state and federal budget issues
and bonding, except measures affecting primarily state and local revenue, and
over any measures carrying or requiring appropriations and favorably reported
by any other committee unless such reference is dispensed with by a two-thirds
vote of the Senate.

(c) Government Affairs, seven members, with
jurisdiction over measures affecting primarily the districts from which members
of the Legislature are elected, and Titles 18-22, 24, 25, 27-31 and 36 and
chapters 281-285, 287-289,[and] 407 and 720 of NRS, except measures
affecting primarily state and local revenue, state and federal budget issues,
the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact and the Nevada Tahoe regional planning
agency.

(e) Judiciary, seven members, with
jurisdiction over measures affecting primarily Titles [1-16]1-9, 11-16, and 41 and chapters 111-118A and 119-120A of NRS, except measures
affecting primarily state and local revenue.

(f) Legislative Affairs and Operations,
seven members, with jurisdiction over measures affecting primarily Title 17 of
NRS, except the districts from which members of the Legislature are elected,
and the operation of the legislative session, except measures affecting
primarily state and local revenue.

2. The
chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance may assign any portion of a
proposed executive budget to any of the other standing committees of the Senate
for review. Upon receiving such an assignment the standing committee shall
complete its review expeditiously and report its findings and any
recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance for its independent
evaluation.

Rule No. 41.Reserved.

Rule No. 42.Committee
Expenses.

No committee shall employ assistance or
incur any expense, except by permission of the Senate previously obtained.

Rule No. 43.Duties of
Committees.

The several committees shall fully consider
all measures referred to them and report thereon. They shall acquaint
themselves with the interests of the State specially represented by the
committee, and from time to time present such bills and reports as in their
judgment will advance the interests and promote the welfare of the people of
the State, and shall fully consider and report their opinion upon any matter
committed or referred to them by the Senate.

Rule No. 44.Committee on
Legislative Affairs and Operations.

The Committee on Legislative Affairs and
Operations shall recommend by resolution the appointment of all attachés and
employees of the Senate not otherwise provided for by law. It may suspend any
attaché or employee for incompetency or dereliction of duty, pending final
action by the Senate. It shall hear complaints on alleged breaches of ethics
and conflicts of interest, brought by Legislators and others, and it may advise
Legislators on questions of breaches of ethics and conflicts of interests. All
proceedings by the committee on matters of ethics or conflicts of interest are
open to the public unless otherwise authorized to be closed to the public by
section 15 of article 4 of the Constitution of the State of Nevada.

Rule No. 45.Reserved.

Rule No. 46.Forming
Committee of the Whole.

In forming the Committee of the Whole, the
Senator who has so moved shall name a chairman to preside, and all bills
considered shall be read by sections, and the chairman shall call for
amendments at the conclusion of the reading of each section. All amendments
proposed by the committee shall be reported by the chairman to the Senate.

Rule No. 47.Rules
Applicable to Committee of the Whole.

The Rules of the Senate shall apply to
proceedings in Committee of the Whole, except that the previous question shall
not be ordered, nor the ayes and noes demanded, but the committee may limit the
number of times that any member may speak, at any stage of proceedings, during
its sitting. Messages may be received by the President while the committee is
sitting; in which case the President will resume the chair, receive the
message, and vacate the chair in favor of the chairman of the committee.

Rule No. 48.Motion to
Rise Committee of the Whole.

A motion that the committee rise shall
always be in order, and shall be decided without debate.

Rule No. 49.Reference to
Committee.

When a motion is made to refer any subject,
and different committees are proposed, the [question must be taken in the
following order:

1. The
Committee of the Whole Senate.

2. A
Standing Committee.] subject may be referred to the committee with jurisdiction over
the subject as set forth in Senate Standing Rule No. 40, or to a different
committee, upon a majority vote of the Senate.

Rule No. 50.Return From
Committee.

1. Any
bill or other matter referred to a committee of the Senate must not be
withdrawn or ordered taken from the committee for consideration by the Senate,
recommitment, or for any other reason without a two-thirds vote of the Senate,
and at least one day’s notice of the motion therefor.

2. No
such motion is in order:

(a) If the bill to be withdrawn or ordered
taken from the committee may no longer be considered by the Senate; or

(b) On the last day of the session, or on
the day preceding the last day of the session.

3. This
rule does not take from any committee the rights and duties of committees
provided for in Senate Standing Rule No. 43.

Rule No. 51. Reserved.

Rule No. 52.Reserved.

Rule No. 53.Committee
Rules.

1. The
rules of the Senate, as far as applicable, are the rules of committees of the
Senate. Procedure in committees, where not otherwise provided in this rule,
must follow the procedure of the Senate. For matters not included in the rules
of the Senate or these rules, Mason’s Manual must be followed.

2. A
majority of any committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

3. A
meeting of a committee may not be opened without a quorum present.

4. In
addition to regularly scheduled meetings or those called by the chairman,
meetings may be set by a written petition of a majority of a committee and
filed with the chairman of a committee.

5. A
bill may be passed from a committee only by a majority of the committee
membership. A simple majority of those present and voting is sufficient to
adopt committee amendments.

6. Subcommittees
may be appointed by committee chairmen to consider subjects specified by the
committee and shall report back to the committee.

7. A
committee shall act only when together, and all votes must be taken in the
presence of the committee. A member shall not be recorded as voting unless he
was actually present in the committee at the time of the vote. The chairman
shall vote on all final actions on bills or resolutions. The provisions of this
subsection do not prohibit the prefiling of legislative bills and resolutions
on behalf of a committee in the manner prescribed by the legislative
commission.

8. All
committee and subcommittee meetings are open to the public, except as otherwise
provided in Senate Standing Rule No. 13.

9. Before
reporting a bill or resolution to the Senate, a committee may reconsider its
action. A motion to reconsider must be made by a member who voted with the
prevailing side.

10. Committee
chairmen shall determine the agenda of each meeting except that committee
members may request an item for the agenda by communicating with the chairman
at least 4 days before the meeting. A majority of a committee may, by
vote, add an item to the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting.

12. All
committees shall keep minutes of meetings. The minutes must cover members
present and absent, subjects under discussion, witnesses who appear, committee
members’ statements concerning legislative intent, action taken by the
committee, as well as the vote of individual members on all matters on which a
vote is taken. Any member may submit to the secretary additional remarks to be
included in the minutes and records of committee meetings. At the conclusion of
the legislative session, the Secretary of the Senate shall deliver all minutes
and records of committee meetings in her possession to the Director of the
Legislative Counsel Bureau.

13. In
addition to the minutes, the committee secretary shall maintain a record of all
bills, including:

(a) Date bill referred;

(b) Date bill received;

(c) Date set for hearing the bill;

(d) Date or dates bill heard and voted upon;
and

(e) Date report prepared.

14. Each
committee secretary shall file the minutes of each meeting with the Secretary
of the Senate as soon as practicable after the meeting.

15. All
committee minutes are open to public inspection upon request and during normal
business hours.

Rule No. 54.Review of
State Agency Programs.

In addition to or concurrent with committee
action taken on specific bills and resolutions during a regular session of the
Legislature, each standing committee of the Senate is encouraged to plan and
conduct a general review of selected programs of state agencies or other areas
of public interest within the committee’s jurisdiction.

The
next rule is 60.

VI. RULES GOVERNING MOTIONS

A. Motions Generally

Rule No. 60.Entertaining.

1. No
motion may be debated until it is announced by the President.

2. By
consent of the Senate, a motion may be withdrawn before amendment or decision.

Rule No. 61.Precedence of
Motions.

When a question is under debate no motion
shall be received but the following, which shall have precedence in the order
named:

1. To
adjourn.

2. For
a call of the Senate.

3. To
lay on the table.

4. For
the previous question.

5. To
postpone to a day certain.

6. To
commit.

7. To
amend.

8. To
postpone indefinitely.

The first four shall be decided without
debate.

Rule No. 62.When Not
Entertained.

1. When
a motion to commit, to postpone to a day certain, or to postpone indefinitely
has been decided, it must not be again entertained on the same day.

2. When
a question has been postponed indefinitely, it must not again be introduced
during the session unless this rule is suspended by a two-thirds vote.

3. There
must be no reconsideration of a vote on a motion to postpone indefinitely.

B. Particular Motions

Rule No. 63.To Adjourn.

A motion to adjourn shall always be in
order. The name of the Senator moving to adjourn, and the time when the motion
was made, shall be entered [on]in the Journal.

Rule No. 64.Lay on the
Table.

A motion to lay on or take from the table
shall be carried by a majority vote.

Rule No. 65.Reserved.

Rule No. 66.To Strike
Enacting Clause.

A motion to strike out the enacting clause
of a bill or resolution has precedence over a motion to commit or amend. If a
motion to strike out the enacting clause of a bill or resolution is carried,
the bill or resolution is rejected.

Rule No. 67.Division of
Question.

1. Any
Senator may call for a division of a question.

2. A
question must be divided if it embraces subjects so distinct that if one
subject is taken away, a substantive proposition remains for the decision of
the Senate.

3. A
motion to strike out and insert must not be divided.

Rule No. 68.To
Reconsider—Precedence of.

1. A
motion to reconsider has precedence over every other motion, except a motion to
adjourn. When the Senate adjourns while a motion to reconsider is pending, or
before passing the order of Motions and Resolutions, the right to move for
reconsideration continues to the next day of sitting.

2. No
notice of reconsideration of any final vote is in order on the day preceding
the last day of the session.

Rule No. 69.Explanation
of Motion.

Whenever a Senator moves to change the usual
disposition of a bill or resolution, he shall describe the subject of the bill
or resolution and state the reasons for his requesting the change in the
processing of the bill or resolution.

The
next rule is 80.

VII. DEBATE

Rule No. 80.Speaking on
Question.

1. Every
Senator who speaks shall, standing in his place, address “Mr. or Madam
President,” in a courteous manner, and shall confine himself to the question
before the Senate. When he has finished, he shall sit down.

2. No
Senator may speak:

(a) More than twice during the consideration
of any one question on the same day, except for explanation.

(b) A second time without leave when others
who have not spoken desire the floor.

3. Incidental
and subsidiary questions arising during debate shall not be considered the same
question.

Rule No. 81.Previous
Question.

The previous question shall not be put
unless demanded by three Senators, and it shall be in this form: “Shall the
main question be now put?” When sustained by a majority of Senators present it
shall put an end to all debate and bring the Senate to a vote on the question
or questions before it, and all incidental questions arising after the motion
was made shall be decided without debate. A person who is speaking on a
question shall not while he has the floor move to put that question.

The
next rule is 90.

VIII. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

A. Generally

Rule No. 90.Mason’s
Manual.

The rules of parliamentary practice
contained in Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern the Senate in
all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent
with the standing rules and orders of the Senate, and the joint rules of the
Senate and Assembly.

Rule No. 91.Suspension of
Rule.

No standing rule or order of the Senate
shall be rescinded or changed without a vote of two-thirds of the Senate and one
day’s notice of the motion therefor; but a rule or order may be temporarily
suspended for a special purpose by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.
When the suspension of a rule is called for, and after due notice from the
President no objection is offered, he can announce the rule suspended and the
Senate may proceed accordingly; but this shall not apply to that portion of
Senate Standing Rule No. 109 relating to the third reading of bills, which
cannot be suspended; and further, this rule shall not apply to the suspension
of Senate Standing Rule No. 50.

Rule No. 92. Notices
of Bills, Topics and Public Hearings.

Adequate notice shall be provided to the
Legislators and the public by posting information relative to the bills, topics
and public hearings which are to come before committees. Notices shall include
the date, time, place and agenda, and shall be posted conspicuously in the
legislative building, shall appear in the daily history, and shall be made
available to the news media.

This requirement of notice may be suspended
for an emergency by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the committee members
appointed.

Rule No. 93.Protest.

Any Senator, or Senators, may protest
against the action of the Senate upon any question, and have such protest
entered [upon]in the
Journal.

Rule No. 94.Privilege of
the Floor.

1. To
preserve decorum and facilitate the business of the Senate, only the following
persons may be present on the floor of the Senate during formal sessions:

(a) State officers;

(b) Officers and members of the Senate;

(c) Employees of the Legislative Counsel
Bureau;

(d) Attachés and employees of the Senate;
and

(e) Members of the Assembly whose presence
is required for the transaction of business.

2. Guests
of Senators must be seated in a section of the upper or lower gallery of the
Senate Chamber to be specially designated by the Sergeant at Arms. The Majority
Leader may specify special occasions when guests may be seated on the floor of
the Senate with a Senator.

3. A
majority of Senators may authorize the President to have the Senate Chamber
cleared of all persons except Senators and officers of the Senate.

4. The
Senate Chamber may not be used for any business other than legislative business
during a legislative session.

Rule No. 95.Material
Placed on Legislators’ Desks.

1. Only
the Sergeant at Arms and officers and employees of the Senate may place papers,
letters, notes, pamphlets and other written material upon a Senator’s desk.
Such material must contain the name of the Legislator requesting the placement
of the material on the desk or a designation of the origin of the material.

2. This
rule does not apply to books containing the legislative bills and resolutions,
the daily histories and daily journals of the Senate or Assembly, or
Legislative Counsel Bureau material.

Rule No. 96.Reserved.

Rule No. 97.Petitions and
Memorials.

The contents of any petition or memorial
shall be briefly stated by the President or any Senator presenting it. It shall
then lie on the table or be referred, as the President or Senate may direct.

Rule No. 98.Reserved.

Rule No. 99.Reserved.

Rule No. 100.Reserved.

Rule No. 101.Reserved.

Rule No. 102.Objection to
Reading of Paper.

Where the reading of any paper is called
for, and is objected to by any Senator, it shall be determined by a vote of the
Senate, and without debate.

Rule No. 103.Questions
Relating to Priority of Business.

All questions relating to the priority of
business shall be decided without debate.

B. Bills

Rule No. 104.Reserved.

Rule No. 105.Reserved.

Rule No. 106.Skeleton
Bills.

Skeleton bills may be introduced after the
beginning of a session when, in the opinion of the sponsor and the Legislative
Counsel, the full drafting of the bill would entail extensive research or be of
considerable length. A skeleton bill will be a presentation of ideas or
statements of purpose, sufficient in style and expression to enable the
Legislature and the committee to which the bill may be referred to consider the
substantive merits of the legislation proposed.

Rule No. 107.Information
Concerning Bills.

1. Bills
introduced may be accompanied by information relative to witnesses and selected
persons of departments and agencies who should be considered for committee
hearings on the proposed legislation. At the time of introduction of a bill, a
list may be given to the Secretary of witnesses who are proponents of the
measure together with their addresses and telephone numbers. This information
may be provided by:

(a) The Senator introducing the bill;

(b) The person requesting a committee
introduction of the bill; or

(c) The chairman of a committee introducing
the bill.

2. The
Secretary shall deliver this information to the chairman of the committee to
which the bill is referred. Members of the committee may suggest additional
names for witnesses.

3. The
Legislator may provide an analysis which may describe the intent, purpose,
justification and effects of the bill, or any of them.

Rule No. 108.Reserved.

Rule No. 109.Reading of
Bills.

1. Every
bill must receive three readings before its passage, unless, in case of
emergency, this rule is suspended by a two-thirds vote.

2. The
first reading of a bill is for information, and if there is opposition to the
bill, the question must be, “Shall this bill be rejected?” If there is no
opposition to the bill, or if the question to reject is defeated, the bill must
then take the usual course.

3. No
bill may be committed until once read, nor amended until twice read.

4. The
third reading of every bill must be by sections.

Rule No. 110.Second
Reading File—Consent Calendar.

1. All
bills or joint resolutions reported by committee
must be placed on a second reading file unless recommended for placement on the
consent calendar.

2. A
committee shall not recommend a bill or joint resolution
for placement on the consent calendar if:

(a) An amendment of the bill or joint resolution is recommended;

(b) It contains an appropriation; [or]

(c) It requires a
two-thirds vote of the Senate; or

(d) It is
controversial in nature.

3. A
bill or joint resolution recommended for placement
on the consent calendar must be included in the daily file listed in the daily
history of the Senate at least 1 calendar day before it may be considered.

4. A
bill or joint resolution must be removed from the
consent calendar at the request of any Senator. A bill or joint
resolution so removed must be immediately placed on the second reading
file for consideration in the usual order of business.

5. When
the consent calendar is called, the bills remaining on the consent calendar
must be read by number and summary, and the vote must be taken on their final
passage as a group.

Rule No. 111.Printing.

Eleven hundred copies of all bills and
resolutions of general interest must be printed for the use of the Senate and
Assembly. Such other matter must be printed as may be ordered by the Senate.

Rule No. 112.Reserved.

Rule No. 113.Reading of
Bills—General File.

1. Upon
reading of bills on the second reading file, Senate and Assembly bills reported
without amendments must be placed on the general file. Committee amendments
reported with bills must be considered upon their second reading and such
amendments may be adopted by a majority vote of the members present. Bills so
amended must be reprinted, engrossed or reengrossed, and placed on the general
file. The file must be posted in the Senate Chamber and made available to
members of the public each day by the Secretary.

2. Any
member may move to amend a bill during its reading on the second reading file
or during its third reading and the motion to amend may be adopted by a
majority vote of the members present. Bills so amended on second reading must
be treated the same as bills with committee amendments. Any bill so amended
upon the general file must be reprinted and engrossed or reengrossed.

3. Unless
otherwise ordered by the Senate, eleven hundred copies of all amended bills
must be printed.

Rule No. 114.Commitment of
Bill With Special Instructions.

A bill may be committed with special
instructions to amend at any time before taking the final vote.

Rule No. 115.Reconsideration
of Vote on Bill.

1. On
the day after the final vote on any bill, the vote may be reconsidered on
motion of any member if notice of intention to move for reconsideration was
given on the day the final vote was taken by a Senator who voted on the
prevailing side. No motion to reconsider is in order on the day the final vote
was taken, except by unanimous consent.

2. Motions
to reconsider a vote upon amendments to any pending question may be made and
decided at once.

Rule No. 116.Reserved.

Rule No. 117.Different
Subject Not Admitted as Amendment.

No subject different from that under
consideration shall be admitted as an amendment; and no bill or resolution
shall be amended by incorporating any irrelevant subject matter or by
association or annexing any other bill or resolution pending in the Senate, but
a substitute may be offered at any time so long as the original is open to
amendment.

C. Resolutions

Rule No. 118.Treated as
Bills.

Resolutions addressed to Congress, or to
either House thereof, or to the President of the United States, or the heads of
any of the national departments, or proposing amendments to the State
Constitution are subject, in all respects, to the foregoing rules governing the
course of bills. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution
shall be entered in the journal in its entirety.

Rule No. 119.Treated as
Motions.

Resolutions, other than those referred to in
Senate Standing Rule No. 118, shall be treated as motions in all proceedings of
the Senate.

Rule No. 120. Order
of Business.

1. Roll
Call.

2. Prayer
[by the
Chaplain.

3.]and Pledge of allegiance
to the Flag.

[4.]3. Reading and Approval of the Journal.

[5.]4. Reports of [Standing
Committees.

6.]Committees.

5. Messages from the Governor.

[7.]6. Messages from
the Assembly.

[8. Communications from
State Officers.]

7. Communications.

8. Waivers and Exemptions.

9. Motions,
Resolutions and Notices.

10. Introduction,
First Reading and Reference.

11. Consent
Calendar.

12. Second
Reading and Amendment.

13. [Business on] General File and Third
Reading.

14. Unfinished
Business.

15. Special
Orders of the Day.

16. Remarks
from the Floor; Introduction of Guests.

Rule No. 121.Privilege.

Any Senator may rise and explain a matter
personal to himself by leave of the President, but he shall not discuss any
pending question in such explanation.

Rule No. 122.Reserved.

Rule No. 123.Reserved.

Rule No. 124.Preference to
Speak.

When two or more Senators rise at the same
time the President shall name the one who may first speak—giving preference,
when practicable, to the mover or introducer of the subject under consideration.

Rule No. 125.Special
Order.

The President shall call the Senate to order
on the arrival of the time fixed for the consideration of a special order, and
announce that the special order is before the Senate, which shall be
considered, unless it be postponed by a two-thirds vote, and any business
before the Senate at the time of the announcement of the special order shall go
to Unfinished Business.

Rule No. 126.Reserved.

Rule No. 127.Reserved.

Rule No. 128.Reserved.

Rule No. 129.Reserved.

D. Contests of Elections

Rule No. 130.Procedure.

1. The
Senate shall not dismiss a statement of contest for want of form if any ground
of contest is alleged with sufficient certainty to inform the defendant of the
charges he is required to meet. The following grounds are sufficient, but are
not exclusive:

(a) That the election board or any member
thereof was guilty of malfeasance.

(b) That a person who has been declared
elected to an office was not at the time of election eligible to that office.

(c) That illegal votes were cast and counted
for the defendant, which, if taken from him, will reduce the number of his
legal votes below the number necessary to elect him.

(d) That the election board, in conducting
the election or in canvassing the returns, made errors sufficient to change the
result of the election as to any person who has been declared elected.

(e) That the defendant has given, or offered
to give, to any person a bribe for the purpose of procuring his election.

(f) That there was a possible malfunction of
any voting or counting device.

2. The
contest must be submitted so far as may be possible upon depositions or by
written or oral arguments as the Senate may order. Any party to a contest may
take the deposition of any witness at any time after the statement of contest
is filed with the Secretary of State and before the contest is finally decided.
At least 5 days’ notice must be given to the prospective deponent and to the
other party. If oral statements are made at any hearing before the Senate or a
committee thereof which purport to establish matters of fact, they must be made
under oath. Strict rules of evidence do not apply.

3. The
contestant has the burden of proving that any irregularities shown were of such
nature as to establish the probability that the result of the election was
changed thereby. After consideration of all the evidence, the Senate shall
declare the defendant elected unless the Senate finds from the evidence that a
person other than the defendant received the greatest number of legal votes, in
which case the Senate shall declare that person elected.

The next rule is 140.

IX. LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATIONS

Rule No. 140.Compensation
of Witnesses.

Witnesses summoned to appear before the
Senate, or any of its committees, shall be compensated as provided by law for
witnesses required to attend in the courts of the State of Nevada.

Senator Raggio moved the adoption of the resolution.

Remarks by
Senators Raggio, Neal, Titus and James.

Senator Raggio moved that the Senate recess subject to the call
of the Chair.

Motion carried.

Senate in recess at 2:35 p.m.

SENATE IN SESSION

At 2:39 p.m.

President Hunt presiding.

Quorum present.

Resolution
adopted unanimously.

By Senators Raggio and Titus:

Senate
Resolution No. 2—Providing allowances to the leadership and other members of
the Senate for periodicals, stamps, stationery and communications.

Senator Raggio moved the adoption of the resolution.

Senator Raggio requested that his remarks be entered in the
Journal.

Madam President. This resolution provides an allowance to leadership
and other members of the Senate for periodicals, postage, stationery and
communications which is used by each Senator for office expenditures for this
session.

Senate Bill No. 1—AN ACT making an appropriation to the
legislative fund; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Raggio moved that all rules be suspended, reading so far
had considered first reading, rules further suspended, Senate Bill No. 1
declared an emergency measure under the Constitution and placed on third
reading and final passage.

Senator
Raggio requested that his remarks be entered in the Journal.

Thank you, Madam President. This is the traditional bill that is
introduced as Senate Bill No. 1 at the beginning of each session of the
Legislature. This bill provides the appropriation of $10 million for the
operation of the Legislature during this session.

Motion carried unanimously.

GENERAL FILE AND THIRD
READING

Senate
Bill No. 1.

Bill read third time.

Remarks by Senator Raggio.

Roll call on Senate Bill No. 1:

Yeas—21.

Nays— None.

Senate Bill No. 1 having received a
constitutional majority, Madam President declared it passed.

Senator Raggio moved that all rules be suspended and that Senate
Bill No.1 be immediately transmitted to the Assembly.

Motion carried unanimously.

Bill ordered transmitted to the Assembly.

Senator Raggio moved that the Senate recess subject to the call
of the Chair.

Motion carried.

Senate in recess at 3:05 p.m.

SENATE IN SESSION

At 3:10
p.m.

President Hunt presiding.

Quorum present.

MESSAGES
FROM THE ASSEMBLY

Assembly
Chamber, Carson
City, February 5, 2001

To the
Honorable the Senate:

I
have the honor to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on this day
adopted Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 1.

Patricia R. Williams

Assistant Chief
Clerk of the Assembly

MOTIONS,
RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 1—Adopting the Joint Rules of
the Senate and Assembly for the 71st session of the Legislature.

Resolved by the assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate
Concurring, That the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly as amended
by the 70th session are adopted, with the following changes, as the Joint Rules
of the Senate and Assembly for the 71st session of the Legislature:

CONFERENCE COMMITTEES

Rule
No. 1. Procedure Concerning.

In every case of an amendment of a bill, or
joint or concurrent resolution, agreed to in one House, dissented from in the
other, and not receded from by the one making the amendment, each House shall
appoint a committee to confer with a like committee to be appointed by the
other; and the committee so appointed shall meet publicly at a convenient hour
to be agreed upon by their respective chairmen and announced publicly, and
shall confer upon the differences between the two Houses as indicated by the amendments
made in one and rejected in the other and report as early as convenient the
result of their conference to their respective Houses. The report shall be made
available to all members of both Houses. The whole subject matter embraced in
the bill or resolution shall be considered by the committee, and it may
recommend recession by either House, new amendments, new bills or resolutions,
or other changes as it sees fit. New bills or resolutions so reported shall be
treated as amendments unless the bills or resolutions are composed entirely of
original matter, in which case they shall receive the treatment required in the
respective Houses for original bills, or resolutions, as the case may be.

The report of a conference committee may be
adopted by acclamation, and such action may be considered equivalent to the
adoption of amendments embodied therein. The report is not subject to
amendment. If either House refuses to adopt the report, or if the first
conference committee has so recommended, a second conference committee may be
appointed. No member who served on the first committee may be appointed to the
second.

There shall be but two conference committees
on any bill or resolution. A majority of the members of a conference committee
from each House must be members who voted for the passage of the bill or
resolution.

MESSAGES

Rule
No. 2. Procedure Concerning.

Proclamations by the Governor convening the
Legislature in extra session shall, by direction of the presiding officer of
each House, be read immediately after the convening thereof, filed and entered
in full [upon]in the Journal
of proceedings.

Whenever a message from the Governor is
received, the Sergeant at Arms will announce: “Mr. President, or Mr. Speaker,
the Secretary of the Governor is at the bar.” The secretary will, upon being
recognized by the presiding officer, announce: “Mr. President, or Mr. Speaker,
a message from His Excellency, the Governor of Nevada, to the Honorable, the
Senate or Assembly,” and hand same to the Sergeant at Arms for delivery to the
Secretary of the Senate or Chief Clerk of the Assembly. The presiding officer
will direct the biennial message of the Governor to be received and read, and
all special messages to be received, read and entered in full [upon]in the Journal of
proceedings.

Messages from the Senate to the Assembly
shall be delivered by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, and messages from
the Assembly to the Senate shall be delivered by the Chief Clerk or Assistant
Chief Clerk.

NOTICE OF FINAL ACTION

Rule
No. 3. Communications.

Each House shall communicate its final
action on any bill or resolution, or matter in which the other may be
interested, by written notice. Each such notice sent by the Senate must be
signed by the Secretary of the Senate, or a person designated by the Secretary.
Each such notice sent by the Assembly must be signed by the Chief Clerk of the
Assembly, or a person designated by the Chief Clerk.

BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Rule
No. 4. Signature.

Each enrolled bill or joint resolution shall
be presented to the presiding officers of both Houses for signature. They
shall, after an announcement of their intention to do so is made in open
session, sign the bill or joint resolution and their signatures shall be
followed by those of the Secretary of the Senate and Chief Clerk of the
Assembly.

Rule
No. 5. Joint Sponsorship.

1. A
bill or resolution introduced by a standing committee of the Senate or Assembly
may, at the direction of the chairman of the committee, set forth the name of a
standing committee of the other House as a joint sponsor, if a majority of all
members appointed to the committee of the other House votes in favor of
becoming a joint sponsor of the bill or resolution. The name of the committee
joint sponsor must be set forth on the face of the bill or resolution
immediately below the date on which the bill or resolution is introduced.

2. A
bill or resolution introduced by one or more legislators elected to one House
may, at the direction of the legislator who brings the bill or resolution
forward for introduction, set forth the names of one or more legislators who
are members elected to the other House and who wish to be primary joint
sponsors or non-primary joint sponsors of the bill or resolution. The number of
primary joint sponsors must not exceed five per bill or resolution. The names
of each primary joint sponsor and non-primary joint sponsor must be set forth
on the face of the bill or resolution in the following order immediately below
the date on which the bill or resolution is introduced:

(a) The name of each primary joint sponsor,
in the order indicated on the colored back of the introductory copy of the bill
or resolution; and

(b) The name of each non-primary joint
sponsor, in alphabetical order.

3. The
Legislative Counsel shall not cause to be printed the name of a standing
committee as a joint sponsor on the face of a bill or resolution unless the
chairman of the committee has signed his name next to the name of the committee
on the colored back of the introductory copy of the bill or resolution that was
submitted to the front desk of the House of origin or the statement required by
subsection 5. The Legislative Counsel shall not cause to be printed the name of
a legislator as a primary joint sponsor or non-primary joint sponsor on the face
of a bill or resolution unless the legislator has signed the colored back of
the introductory copy of the bill or resolution that was submitted to the front
desk of the House of origin or the statement required by subsection 5.

4. Upon
introduction, any bill or resolution that sets forth the names of primary joint
sponsors or non-primary joint sponsors, or both, must be numbered in the same
numerical sequence as other bills and resolutions of the same House of origin
are numbered.

5. Once
a bill or resolution has been introduced, a primary joint sponsor or
non-primary joint sponsor may only be added or removed by amendment of the bill
or resolution. An amendment which proposes to add or remove a primary joint
sponsor or non-primary joint sponsor must not be considered by the House of
origin of the amendment unless a statement requesting the addition or removal
is attached to the copy of the amendment submitted to the front desk of the
House of origin of the amendment. If the amendment proposes to add or remove a
legislator as a primary joint sponsor or non-primary joint sponsor, the
statement must be signed by that legislator. If the amendment proposes to add
or remove a standing committee as a joint sponsor, the statement must be signed
by the chairman of the committee. A copy of the statement must be transmitted
to the Legislative Counsel if the amendment is adopted.

6. An
amendment that proposes to add or remove a primary joint sponsor or non-primary
joint sponsor may include additional proposals to change the substantive
provisions of the bill or resolution or may be limited only to the proposal to
add or remove a primary joint sponsor or non-primary joint sponsor.

PRINTING

Rule
No. 6. Ordering and Distribution.

Each House may order the printing of bills
introduced, reports of its own committees, and other matter pertaining to that
House only; but no other printing may be ordered except by a concurrent
resolution passed by both Houses. Each Senator is entitled to the free
distribution of four copies of each bill introduced in each House, and each
Assemblyman to such a distribution of two copies. Additional copies of such
bills may be distributed at a charge to the person to whom they are addressed.
The amount charged for distribution of the additional copies must be determined
by the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau to approximate the cost of
handling and postage for the entire session.

RESOLUTIONS

Rule
No. 7. Types, Usage and Approval.

1. A
joint resolution must be used to:

(a) Propose an amendment to the Nevada
constitution.

(b) Ratify a proposed amendment to the
United States Constitution.

(c) Address the President of the United
States, Congress, either House or any committee or member of Congress, any
department or agency of the Federal Government, or any other state of the
Union.

2. A
concurrent resolution must be used to:

(a) Amend these joint rules.

(b) Request the return from the Governor of
an enrolled bill for further consideration.

(c) Resolve that the return of a bill from
one House to the other House is necessary and appropriate.

(d) Express facts, principles, opinion and
purposes of the Senate and Assembly.

(e) Establish a joint committee of the two
Houses.

(f) Direct the Legislative Commission to
conduct an interim study.

3. A
concurrent resolution or a resolution of one House may be used to:

(a) Memorialize a former member of the Legislature
or other notable or distinguished person upon his death.

(b) Congratulate or commend any person or
organization for a significant and meritorious accomplishment, but any request
for drafting the resolution must be approved by the Senate Committee on
Legislative Affairs and Operations or the Assembly Committee on Elections,
Procedures, and Ethics before submission to the Legislative Counsel.

VETOES

Rule
No. 8. Special Order.

Bills which have passed a previous
Legislature, and which are transmitted to the Legislature next sitting,
accompanied by a message or statement of the Governor’s disapproval, or veto of
the same, shall become the subject of a special order; and when the special
order for their consideration is reached and called, the said message or
statement shall be read, together with the bill or bills so disposed or vetoed;
and the message and bill shall be read in the Senate by the Secretary of the
Senate and in the Assembly by the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, without
interruption, consecutively, one following the other, and not upon separate
occasions; and no such bill or message shall be referred to any committee, or
otherwise acted upon, save as provided by law and custom; that is to say, that
immediately following such reading the only question (except as hereinafter
stated) which shall be put by the Chair is, “Shall the bill pass,
notwithstanding the objections of the Governor?” It shall not be in order, at
any time, to vote upon such vetoed bill without the same shall have first been
read, from the first word of its title to and including the last word of its
final section; and no motion shall be entertained after the Chair has stated
the question save a motion for “The previous question,” but the merits of the
bill itself may be debated.

ADJOURNMENT

Rule
No. 9. Limitations and Calculation of
Duration.

1. In
calculating the permissible duration of an adjournment for 3 days or less, the
day of adjournment must not be counted but the day of the next meeting must be
counted, and Sunday must not be counted.

2. The
Legislature may adjourn for more than 3 days by motion
based on mutual consent of the houses or by concurrent resolution. One
or more such adjournments, for a total of not more than 20 days during any
regular session, may be taken to permit standing committees, select committees
or the Legislative Counsel Bureau to prepare the matters respectively entrusted
to them for the consideration of the Legislature as a whole.

Except for routine salary, travel,
equipment and operating expenses, no expenditures shall be made from the
Legislative Fund without the authority of a Concurrent Resolution regularly
adopted by the Senate and Assembly.

LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION

Rule
No. 11. Membership and Organization.

1. When
members of the minority party in the Senate or in the Assembly comprise less
than 34 percent of the total number elected to that House, minority party
membership for that House on the Legislative Commission must be:

(a) One, if such membership is less than 21
percent.

(b) Two, if such membership is between 21
percent and 33 percent. If the members of the minority party in the Senate or
in the Assembly comprise more than 33 percent of the total number elected to
that House, minority party membership for that House on the Commission must be
three, being equal to the membership of the majority party.

2. Each
House shall select one or more alternate members for each member from that
House, designating them according to party or according to the individual
member whom the alternate would replace.

3. A
vacancy in the regular Senate or Assembly membership created by death or by
resignation or by the Legislator’s ceasing to be a member of the Legislature
shall be filled by the proper alternate member as designated by that House. If
there is no proper alternate member, the Legislative Commission shall fill the
vacancy by appointing a Senator or Assemblyman of the same party.

4. If
for any reason a member is or will be absent from a meeting and there are no
alternates available, the chairman of the commission may appoint a member of
the same House and political party to attend the meeting as an alternate.

5. The
members shall serve until their successors are appointed by resolution as
provided in NRS 218.660, notwithstanding that their terms of office may have
expired, except that the membership of any member who does not become a
candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection shall terminate on
the day next after the election and the vacancy shall be filled as provided in
this rule.

6. The
chairman shall be selected at the first meeting of the newly formed Legislative
Commission and shall serve until his successor is appointed following the
formation of the next Legislative Commission.

RECORDS OF COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS

Rule
No. 12. Duties of Secretary of
Committee and Director.

1. Each
standing committee of the Legislature shall cause a record to be made of the
proceedings of its meetings.

2. The
secretary of a standing committee shall:

(a) Label each record with the date, time
and place of the meeting and also indicate on the label the numerical sequence
in which the record was made;

(b) Keep the records in chronological order;
and

(c) Deposit the records immediately
following the final adjournment of any regular or special session of the
Legislature with the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

3. The
Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau shall:

(a) Index the records;

(b) Make the records available for accessing
by any person during office hours under such reasonable conditions as he may
deem necessary;

(c) Maintain a log as a public record
containing the date, time, name and address of any person accessing any of the
records and identifying the records accessed; and

(d) Retain the records for two bienniums and
at the end of that period keep some form or copy of the record in any manner he
deems reasonable to ensure access to the record in the foreseeable future.

REAPPORTIONMENT AND REDISTRICTING

Rule
No. 13. Responsibility for Measures and
Approval of Research Requests.

1. The Committee on Government Affairs of
the Senate and the Committee on Elections, Procedures, and Ethics of the
Assembly are respectively responsible for measures which primarily affect the
designation of the districts from which members are elected to the Legislature.
These committees are hereby designated as the
“redistricting committees” for the purposes of this rule and Joint Standing
Rules Nos. 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5 and 13.6.

2. Any request for research concerning
the population of proposed districts must be submitted to the Research Division
of the Legislative Counsel Bureau through one of these redistricting
committees.

Rule No. 13.1. Equality of Representation.

1. In order to meet
constitutional guidelines for deviations in population among state legislative
districts, no plan, or proposed amendment thereto, will be considered that
results in an overall range of deviation in excess of 10 percent, or a relative
deviation in excess of plus or minus 5 percent from the ideal district
population.

2. The population of each
of the Nevada congressional districts must be as nearly equal as is
practicable. Any population deviation among the congressional districts from
the ideal district population must be necessary to achieve some legitimate
state objective. Legitimate state objectives, as judicially determined, include
making districts compact, respecting municipal boundaries, preserving the cores
of prior districts and avoiding contests between incumbent representatives. In
order to meet constitutional guidelines for congressional districts, no plan,
or proposed amendment thereto, will be considered that results in an overall
range of deviation in excess of 1 percent, or a relative deviation in excess of
plus or minus one-half percent from the ideal district population.

3. Equality of population
in accordance with the standard for state legislative districts is the goal of
redistricting for the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents.

Rule No. 13.2. Population Database.

1. The total state population,
and the population of defined subunits thereof, as determined by the 2000
federal decennial census must be the exclusive database for redistricting by
the Nevada Legislature.

2. Such 2000 census data
as validated by the staff of the Legislative Counsel Bureau must be the
exclusive database used for the evaluation of proposed redistricting plans for
population equality.

Rule No. 13.3. Districts.

All district boundaries created by a redistricting plan must
follow the census geography.

Rule No. 13.4. Procedures of the Redistricting Committees.

1. A legislator or member
of the public may present to the redistricting committees any plans or
proposals relating to redistricting, including proposals for redistricting
specific districts or all the state legislative districts, congressional
districts, districts for the Board of Regents or districts for the State Board
of Education for consideration by the redistricting committees.

2. Bill draft requests,
including bills in skeletal form, setting forth specific boundaries of the
state legislative districts, congressional districts, districts for the Board
of Regents or districts for the State Board of Education, and amendments
affecting a majority of the state legislative districts, may only be requested
by the chairmen of the redistricting committees.

3. The chairmen of the
redistricting committees are limited to one request each for a bill draft
setting forth the specific boundaries of the state legislative districts, one
request each for a bill draft setting forth the specific boundaries of the
congressional districts, one request each for a bill draft setting forth the
specific boundaries of the districts for the Board of Regents and one request
each for a bill draft setting forth the specific boundaries of the districts of
the State Board of Education. At the direction of the chairman of the
redistricting committee, the bill draft requests setting forth the specific
boundaries of the state legislative districts, the congressional districts,
districts for the Board of Regents and districts for the State Board of
Education may be combined in any manner.

Rule No. 13.5. Compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

1. The redistricting
committees will not consider a plan that discernibly violates section 2 of the
Voting Rights Act, codified as 42 U.S.C. § 1973(a), which prohibits any state
from imposing any voting qualification, standard, practice or procedure that
results in the denial or abridgment of any United States citizen’s right to
vote on account of race, color or status as a member of a language minority
group.

2. The redistricting
committees will not consider a plan that is discernibly racially gerrymandered.
Racial gerrymandering exists when:

(a) Race is the dominant and controlling rationale in drawing
district lines; and

For the purposes of this
subsection, “traditional districting principles” are those traditional
redistricting principles that have been judicially recognized and include
compactness of districts, contiguity of districts, preservation of political
subdivisions, preservation of communities of interest, preservation of cores of
prior districts, protection of incumbents and compliance with section 2 of the
Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1973 (2).

3. For the purpose of
analyzing the 2000 census data, the redistricting committees shall adopt the
method set forth in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Bulletin No.
00-02 for aggregating and allocating the 63 categories of race data that will
be reported to Nevada by the United States Census Bureau as part of the federal
decennial census.

Rule No. 13.6. Public Participation.

1. The redistricting
committees shall seek and encourage:

(a) Public participation in all aspects of the reapportionment and
redistricting activities; and

(b) The widest range of public input into the deliberations
relating to those activities.

2. Notices of all
meetings of the redistricting committees must be transmitted to any member of
the public who so requests, without charge.

3. All interested persons
are encouraged to appear before the redistricting committees and to provide
their input regarding the reapportionment and redistricting activities. The
redistricting committees shall afford a reasonable opportunity to any
interested persons to present plans, or amendments to plans for redistricting,
unless such plans demonstrably fail to meet the minimally acceptable criteria
set forth in this rule and Joint Standing Rules Nos. 13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4
and 13.5.

4. Each of the
redistricting committees, either jointly or separately, shall hold at least one
hearing in the southern portion of this state and at least one hearing in a
rural portion of this state to allow residents throughout the state an
opportunity to participate in the deliberations relating to the reapportionment
and redistricting activities.

5. The Legislative
Counsel Bureau shall make available to the public copies of the validated 2000
census database for the cost of reproducing the database.

6. The redistricting
committees shall make available for review by the public, copies of all maps prepared
at the direction of the committees.

1. Except
as otherwise provided in subsection 5 and Joint Standing Rules Nos. 14.4, 14.5
and 14.6, after a regular legislative session has convened, the Legislative
Counsel shall honor, if submitted before 5 p.m. on the 8th calendar day of the
legislative session, not more than:

(a) Two requests from each Assemblyman; and

(b) Four requests from each Senator,

for
the drafting of a bill[.] or resolution.

2. Except
as otherwise provided in subsections 4 and 5 and Joint Standing Rules Nos. 14.4,
14.5 and 14.6, after a regular legislative session has convened, the
Legislative Counsel shall honor, if submitted before 5 p.m. on the 22nd
calendar day of the legislative session, not more than 50 requests, in total,
from the standing committees of each house[.]for the drafting of a bill. The
Majority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly shall, not later
than the 1st calendar day of the legislative session, determine and provide the
Legislative Counsel with a written list of the number of requests for the
drafting of a bill that may be submitted by each standing committee of their
respective houses, within the limit provided by this subsection. The lists may
be revised any time before the 22nd day of the legislative session to reallocate
any unused requests or requests which were withdrawn before drafting began on
the request.

3. A
request for the drafting of a bill or resolution that is submitted by a
standing committee pursuant to this section must be approved by a majority of
all of the members appointed to the committee before the request is submitted
to the Legislative Counsel.

4. A
standing committee may only request the drafting of a bill or resolution or
introduce a bill or resolution that is within the jurisdiction of the standing
committee.

5. The
Legislative Counsel shall not honor a request for the drafting of a bill or
resolution submitted by a member or standing committee of the Senate or
Assembly unless such information as is required to draft the measure is
submitted to the Legislative Counsel with the request.

6. A
measure introduced by a standing committee at the request of a legislator or
organization must indicate the legislator or organization at whose request the
measure was drafted.

7. The
following measures must be introduced by a standing committee:

(a) Measures drafted at the request of
agencies and officers of the executive branch of state government, local
governments, the courts and other authorized nonlegislative requesters.

(b) Measures requested by interim
legislative studies.

(c) Bills [and joint
resolutions] requested by a standing committee, or by persons designated
to request measures on behalf of a standing committee during the interim. Bills
[and joint resolutions] requested by or on behalf of
a standing committee must be introduced by that committee.

8. [Simple and concurrent resolutions]Resolutions
requested by or on behalf of a standing committee may be introduced by
an individual member.

9. If
two or more measures are being considered in the same house which are
substantively duplicative, only the measure which has been assigned the lowest
number for the purpose of establishing its priority in drafting may be
considered, unless the measure with the lowest number is not introduced within
5 days after introduction of a measure with a higher number.

10. A
legislator may not change the subject matter of a request for a legislative
measure after it has been submitted for drafting.

(a) Unless the provisions of paragraph (b)
or (c) are applicable, a bill may only be introduced on or before:

(1) The 10th calendar day following
delivery of the introductory copy of the bill; or

(2) The last day for introduction of the
bill as required by paragraph (d),whichever
is earlier.

(b) If a bill requires revision after the
introductory copy has been delivered, such information as is required to draft
the revision must be submitted to the Legislative Counsel before the
10th calendar day following delivery of the introductory copy of the bill.
The revised bill may only be introduced on or before:

(1) The 15th calendar day following
delivery of the original introductory copy of the bill; or

(2) The last day for introduction of the
bill as required by paragraph (d),

whichever
is earlier.

(c) If the bill requires a second or
subsequent revision, such information as is required to draft the revision must
be submitted to the Legislative Counsel before the 15th calendar day following
delivery of the original introductory copy of the bill. A bill revised pursuant
to this subsection may only be introduced on or before:

(1) The 20th calendar day following
delivery of the original introductory copy of the bill; or

(2) The last day for introduction of the
bill as required by paragraph (d),

whichever
is earlier.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in
subsection 3, the last day for introduction of a bill that was requested by:

(1) A legislator is the 43rd calendar
day of the legislative session.

(2) A standing or interim committee or
other requester is the 50th calendar day of the legislative session.

2. The
Legislative Counsel shall indicate on the face of the introductory copy of each
bill the final date on which the bill may be introduced.

3. If
the final date on which the bill may be introduced falls upon a day on which
the House in which the bill is to be introduced is not in session, the bill may
be introduced on the next day that the House is in session.

SCHEDULE FOR ENACTMENT OF BILLS

Rule
No. 14.3. Final Dates for Action by
Standing Committees and Houses; Final Date for Requesting Drafting of Reports
for Conference Committees.

1. The
final standing committee to which a bill is referred in its House of origin may
only take action on the bill on or before the [68th]71st calendar day of the legislative session. A bill
may be re-referred after that date only to the Committee on Finance or the
Committee on Ways and Means and only if the [Fiscal
Analysis Division has determined]bill is exempt pursuant
to subsection 1 of Joint Standing Rule No. 14.6 . [that the bill is exempt.]

2. Final
action on a bill may only be taken by the House of origin on or before the [78th]82nd calendar day of the
legislative session.

3. The
final standing committee to which a bill is referred in the second House may
only take action on the bill on or before the [103rd]106th calendar day of the legislative session. A
bill may be re-referred after that date only to the Committee on Finance or the
Committee on Ways and Means and only if the [Fiscal
Analysis Division has determined]bill is exempt pursuant
to subsection 1 of Joint Standing Rule No. 14.6.[that the bill is exempt.]

4. Final
action on a bill may only be taken by the second House on or before the [110th]113th calendar day of
the legislative session.

[5. Requests for the drafting of reports for
Conference Committees must be submitted to the Legislative Counsel on or before
the 118th calendar day of the legislative session.]

No
notice of reconsideration of any final vote on a bill is in order on the last
day on which final action is allowed.

Rule
No. 14.4. Emergency Requests.

1. After
a legislative session has convened:

(a) The Majority Leader of the Senate and
the Speaker of the Assembly may each submit to the Legislative Counsel, on his
own behalf or on the behalf of another legislator or a standing committee of
the Senate or Assembly, not more than five requests for the drafting of a bill[.] or
resolution.

(b) The Minority Leader of the Senate and
the Minority Leader of the Assembly may each submit to the Legislative Counsel,
on his own behalf or on the behalf of another legislator or a standing
committee of the Senate or Assembly, not more than two requests for the
drafting of a bill[.] or resolution.

2. A
request submitted pursuant to subsection 1:

(a) May be submitted at any time during the
legislative session and is not subject to any of the provisions of subsections
1 and 2 of Joint Standing Rule No. 14, subsection 1 of Joint Standing Rule No.
14.2 and Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.

(b) Is in addition to, and not in lieu of,
any other requests for the drafting of a bill or resolution
that are authorized to be submitted to the Legislative Counsel by the
Majority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the Assembly, Minority Leader of the
Senate or Minority Leader of the Assembly.

3. The
list of requests for the preparation of legislative measures prepared pursuant
to NRS 218.2475 must include the phrase “EMERGENCY REQUEST OF” and state
the title of the person who requested each bill or
resolution pursuant to this rule. If the request was made on behalf of
another legislator or a standing committee, the list must also include the name
of the legislator or standing committee on whose behalf the bill or resolution was requested.

4. The
Legislative Counsel shall cause to be printed on the face of the introductory
copy of all reprints of each bill or resolution requested
pursuant to this rule the phrase “EMERGENCY REQUEST OF” and state the title of
the person who requested the bill[.] or resolution.

Rule
No. 14.5. Waivers.

1. At
the request of a legislator or a standing or select
committee of the Senate or Assembly, subsection 1 or 2 of Joint Standing Rule
No. 14, subsection 1 of Joint Standing Rule No. 14.2 or any of the provisions
of Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3, or any combination thereof, may be waived by
the Majority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly, acting
jointly, at any time during a legislative session. A request for a waiver
submitted by a [standing] committee must be approved
by a majority of all members appointed to the committee before the request is
submitted to the Majority Leader and the Speaker.

2. A
waiver granted pursuant to subsection 1:

(a) Must be in writing, executed on a form
provided by the Legislative Counsel, and signed by the Majority Leader and the
Speaker.

(b) Must indicate the date on which the
waiver is granted.

(c) Must indicate the legislator or [standing] committee on whose behalf the waiver is being
granted.

(d) Must include the bill number for which
the waiver is granted or indicate that the Legislative Counsel is authorized to
accept and honor a request for a new bill[.] or resolution.

(e) Must indicate the provisions to which
the waiver applies.

(f) May include the conditions under which
the bill for which the waiver is being granted must be introduced and
processed.

3. The
Legislative Counsel shall not honor a request for the drafting of a new bill or resolution for which a waiver is granted pursuant to
this rule unless such information as is required to draft the bill or resolution is submitted to the Legislative Counsel
within 2 calendar days after the date on which the waiver is granted.

4. Upon
the receipt of a written waiver granted pursuant to this rule, the Legislative
Counsel shall transmit a copy of the waiver to the Secretary of the Senate and
the Chief Clerk of the Assembly. The notice that a waiver has been granted for
an existing bill must be read on the floor and entered in the journal, and a
notation that the waiver was granted must be included as a part of the history
of the bill on the next practicable legislative day. A notation that a waiver
was granted authorizing a new bill or resolution must
be included as a part of the history of the bill or
resolution after introduction.

5. The
Legislative Counsel shall secure the original copy of the waiver to the
official cover of the bill[.] or resolution.

6. No
notice of reconsideration or any final vote on a bill is in order on the last
day on which final action is allowed by a waiver.

Rule
No. 14.6. Exemptions.

1. Upon
request of the draft by or referral to the Senate Finance Committee or the
Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, a bill which [has]:

(a) Contains an
appropriation; or

(b) Has been
determined by the Fiscal Analysis Division to:

[(a) Contain an
appropriation;

(b)](1) Authorize
the expenditure by a state agency of sums not appropriated from the state
general fund or the state highway fund;

[(c)](2) Create or increase any significant fiscal liability of
the state;

[(d)](3) Implement a budget decision; or

[(e)] (4) Significantly decrease any revenue of the state,

is
exempt from the provisions of subsections 1 and 2 of Joint Standing Rule No.
14, subsection 1 of Joint Standing Rule No. 14.2 and Joint Standing Rule No.
14.3. The Fiscal Analysis Division shall give notice to the Legislative Counsel
to cause to be printed on the face of the bill the term “exempt” for any bills
requested by the Senate Finance Committee or Assembly Committee on Ways and
Means that have been determined to be exempt and shall give written notice to
the Legislative Counsel, Secretary of the Senate and Chief Clerk of the
Assembly of any bill which is determined to be exempt after it is printed. A
notation of each exemption granted after the bill was printed must be included
as a part of the history of the bill on the next practicable legislative day.
The term “exempt” must be printed on the face of all subsequent reprints of the
bill.

2. [All]Unless exempt pursuant to
paragraph (a) of subsection 1, all of the provisions of Joint Standing
Rules Nos. 14, 14.2 and 14.3 apply to a bill until it is determined to be
exempt pursuant to subsection 1. A bill determined to be exempt does not lose
the exemption regardless of subsequent actions taken by the Legislature.

3. A
cumulative list of all bills determined to be exempt after being printed must
be maintained and printed in the back of the list of requests for the
preparation of legislative measures prepared pursuant to NRS 218.2475.

(b) A [joint, concurrent
or simple resolution.] bill returned from enrollment
for a technical correction.

(c) A bill that was previously enrolled but,
upon request of the legislature, has been returned from the Governor for
further consideration.

Rule
No. 14.7. Amendments.

1. The
Legislative Counsel shall not honor a request for the drafting of an amendment
to a bill or resolution if the subject matter of the amendment is independent
of, and not specifically related and properly connected to, the subject that is
expressed in the title of the bill or resolution.

2. For
the purposes of this Rule, an amendment is independent of, and not specifically
related and properly connected to, the subject that is expressed in the title
of a bill or resolution if the amendment relates only to the general, single
subject that is expressed in that Title and not to the specific whole subject
matter embraced in the bill or resolution.

3. This
Rule must be narrowly construed to carry out the purposes for which it was
adopted which is to ensure the effectiveness of the limitations set forth in
Joint Standing Rules Nos. 14, 14.2 and 14.3.

CONTINUATION OF LEADERSHIP OF THE
SENATE

AND ASSEMBLY DURING THE INTERIM

BETWEEN SESSIONS

Rule
No. 15. Tenure and Performance of
Statutory Duties.

1. Except
as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3, the tenure of the President pro
Tem, Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker, Speaker
pro Tem, Majority Floor Leader and Minority Floor Leader of the Assembly extends during the interim
between regular sessions of the Legislature.

2. The
Senators designated to be the President pro Tem, Majority Leader and Minority
Leader for the next succeeding regular session shall perform any statutory duty
required in the period between the time of their designation after the general
election and the organization of the next succeeding regular session of the
Legislature if the Senator formerly holding the respective position is no
longer a Legislator.

3. The
Assemblymen designated to be the Speaker, Speaker pro Tem, Majority Floor Leader and Minority Floor Leader
for the next succeeding regular session shall perform any statutory duty
required in the period between the time of their designation after the general
election and the organization of the next succeeding regular session.

INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION
REQUESTED
BY STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Rule
No. 16. Delivery of Bill Drafts
Requested by State Agencies and Local Governments.

1. Except
as otherwise provided in subsection 2, on the first legislative day, the
Legislative Counsel shall randomly deliver, in equal amounts, all legislative
measures drafted at the request of any state agency or department or any local
government to the Majority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly
for consideration for introduction.

2. Any
legislative measure properly requested in accordance with NRS 218.241 and
218.245 by any state agency or department or any local government which has not
been drafted before the first legislative day must, upon completion, be
immediately and randomly delivered, in equal amounts, by the Legislative
Counsel to the Majority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly
for consideration for introduction.

DATE OF FIRST JOINT BUDGET HEARING

Rule
No. 17. Requirement.

The first joint meeting of the Senate
Standing Committee on Finance and the Assembly Standing Committee on Ways and
Means to consider the budgets of the agencies of the state must be held on or
before the [92nd]89th calendar
day of the regular session.

CRITERIA FOR REVIEWING BILLS THAT
REQUIRE POLICIES

OF HEALTH INSURANCE TO PROVIDE
COVERAGE FOR

CERTAIN TREATMENT OR SERVICES

Rule
No. 18. Topics of Consideration.

Any standing committee of the Senate or
Assembly to which a bill is referred requiring a policy of health insurance
delivered or issued for delivery in this state to provide coverage for any
treatment or service shall review the bill giving consideration to:

1. The
level of public demand for the treatment or service for which coverage is
required and the extent to which such coverage is needed in this state;

2. The
extent to which coverage for the treatment or service is currently available;

3. The
extent to which the required coverage may increase or decrease the cost of the
treatment or service;

4. The
effect the required coverage will have on the cost of obtaining policies of
health insurance in this state;

5. The
effect the required coverage will have on the cost of health care provided in
this state; and

6. Such
other considerations as are necessary to determine the fiscal and social impact
of requiring coverage for the treatment or service.

INTERIM FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS

OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES

Rule
No. 19. Date for Reporting.

Each legislative committee that adopted any
findings or recommendations during the interim since the last regular session
of the Legislature shall, no later than the 14th calendar day of the regular
session, inform interested members of the Senate and Assembly of those findings
and recommendations.

1. The
Legislature hereby declares its intention to maintain a working environment
which is free from sexual harassment. This policy applies to all legislators
and lobbyists. Each member and lobbyist is responsible to conduct himself or
herself in a manner which will ensure that others are able to work in such an
environment.

2. In
accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, for the purposes of this
rule, “sexual harassment” means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

(a) Submission to such conduct is made
either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a person’s employment;

(b) Submission to or rejection of such
conduct by a person is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting the
person; or

(c) Such conduct has the purpose or effect
of unreasonably interfering with a person’s work performance or creating an
intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.

3. Each
person subject to these rules must exercise his own good judgment to avoid
engaging in conduct that may be perceived by others as sexual harassment. The
following noninclusive list provides illustrations of conduct that the
Legislature deems to be inappropriate:

(c) Physical conduct such as unwanted
touching, blocking normal movement or interfering with the work directed at a
person because of his sex;

(d) Threats and demands to submit to sexual
requests to keep a person’s job or avoid some other loss, and offers of
employment benefits in return for sexual favors; and

(e) Retaliation for opposing, reporting or
threatening to report sexual harassment, or for participating in an
investigation, proceeding or hearing conducted by the Legislature or the Nevada
Equal Rights Commission or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
when submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term
or condition of a person’s employment or submission to or rejection of such
conduct by a person is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting the
person or such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering
with a person’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or
offensive working environment.

4. A
person may have a claim of sexual harassment even if he has not lost a job or
some other economic benefit. Conduct that impairs a person’s ability to work or
his emotional well-being at work constitutes sexual harassment.

5. If
a legislator believes he is being sexually harassed on the job, he may file a
written complaint with:

(a) The Speaker of the Assembly;

(b) The Majority Leader of the Senate; or

(c) The Director of the Legislative Counsel
Bureau, if the complaint involves the conduct of the Speaker of the Assembly or
the Majority Leader of the Senate.

The
complaint must include the details of the incident or incidents, the names of
the persons involved and the names of any witnesses.

6. Except
as otherwise provided in subsection 7, the Speaker of the Assembly or the
Majority Leader of the Senate, as appropriate, shall refer a complaint received
pursuant to subsection 5 to a committee consisting of legislators of the same
House. A complaint against a lobbyist may be referred to a committee in either
House.

7. If
the complaint involves the conduct of the Speaker of the Assembly or the
Majority Leader of the Senate, the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau
shall refer the complaint to the Committee on Elections, Procedures, and Ethics
of the Assembly or the Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations of the
Senate, as appropriate. If the Speaker of the Assembly or the Majority Leader
of the Senate is a member of one of these committees, the Speaker or the
Majority Leader, as the case may be, shall not participate in the investigation
and resolution of the complaint.

8. The
committee to which the complaint is referred shall immediately conduct a
confidential and discreet investigation of the complaint. As a part of the
investigation, the committee shall notify the accused of the allegations. The
committee shall facilitate a meeting between the complainant and the accused to
allow a discussion of the matter, if both agree. If the parties do not agree to
such a meeting, the committee shall request statements regarding the complaint
from each of the parties. Either party may request a hearing before the
committee. The committee shall make its determination and inform the
complainant and the accused of its determination as soon as practicable after
it has completed its investigation.

9. If
the investigation reveals that sexual harassment has occurred, the Legislature
will take appropriate disciplinary or remedial action, or both. The committee
shall inform the complainant of any action taken. The Legislature will also
take any action necessary to deter any future harassment.

10. The
Legislature will not retaliate against a person who files a complaint and will
not knowingly permit any retaliation by the person’s supervisors or coworkers.

11. The
Legislature encourages a person to report any incident of sexual harassment
immediately so that the complaint can be quickly and fairly resolved.

12. Action
taken by a complainant pursuant to this rule does not prohibit the complainant
from also filing a complaint of sexual harassment with the Nevada Equal Rights
Commission or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

13. All
legislators and lobbyists are responsible for adhering to the provisions of
this policy. The prohibitions against engaging in sexual harassment and the
protections against becoming a victim of sexual harassment set forth in this
policy apply to employees, legislators, lobbyists, vendors, contractors,
customers and visitors to the Legislature.

14. This
policy does not create any enforceable legal rights in any person.

VOTE ON GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL

Rule
No. 21. Waiting Period Between
Introduction and Final Passage.

A period of at least 24 hours must elapse
between the introduction of the general appropriation bill and a vote on its
final passage by its house of origin.

To expedite the deposit of state revenue,
the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and the Assembly Standing Committee on
Ways and Means shall, when reviewing the proposed budget of a state agency
which collects state revenue, require if practicable, the agency to deposit
revenue that it has received within 24 hours after receipt. The committees
shall allow such agencies to deposit the revenue directly or contract with a
service to deposit the revenue within the specified period.

Senator Raggio moved the adoption of the resolution.

Remarks by Senators Raggio, Titus and Neal.

Senator Titus
requested that her remarks be entered in the Journal.

In
Rule No. 13.2.1, the top of page 14 refers to state population of the district
determined by the 2000 federal decennial census. There was a lot of debate and
discussion in our committee. The possibility is that the census will give us
absolute figures and figures that also include some sampling that might be
adjusted. This would allow us to look at both sets of those figures.

Senator Raggio moved that Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 1 be
taken from the Resolution File and placed on the Resolution File for the next
legislative day.

Remarks by Senator Raggio.

Motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS

Messages
From The Secretary Of State

State
Of Nevada

Department
of State

Carson
City, Nevada
89701

January 23, 2001

Claire
Jesse Clift, Secretary
of the Senate

401 S. Carson Street, Carson
City, Nevada 89701-4747

Dear
Ms. Clift:

In compliance with the laws of the State of Nevada and in
response to your letter, returned herewith are Senate Joint Resolutions Nos. 11
and 20 of the Seventieth Session for consideration by the 2001 Nevada
Legislature.

Respectfully,

Dean Heller

Secretary of
State

February 5, 2001

To the Honorable 2001
Legislature of the State of Nevada, Carson City, Nevada

Ladies and Gentlemen
of the Senate:

Pursuant
to the provisions of sections 2 and 3 of article XIX of the Constitution of the
State of Nevada, and the statutes enacted under the authority thereof, I have
the honor to present to you with this letter that certain Initiative Petition entitled:
“NEVADA TAX FAIRNESS AND QUALITY SCHOOL FUNDING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. An act
relating to Taxation; declaring the intention of the people of the State of
Nevada concerning the funding of public elementary and secondary education in
Nevada; imposing a tax on the income to business conducted for profit and doing
business in Nevada; providing for the administration and collection of the tax
and the distribution of the money thereby collected; providing a penalty;
making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.”

The
number of registered voters verified was 63,795. The number of signatures
required was 44,009. In addition, over 10 percent of the signatures required in
the requisite number of counties were verified.

The
petition was filed within the constitutional and statutory period of time
previous to the convening of the 2001 Session of the Nevada Legislature, for
presentation thereto as required by the Constitution and applicable statutes
enacted under the authority thereof.

The
copy transmitted to you on this date is a symbolic copy. The original petition
is contained in 26 boxes and will be retained on file in the Secretary of
State’s office and is accordingly public record.

Respectfully,

Dean Heller

Secretary of
State

Carson City, Nevada

Consolidated
Municipality and State Capital

201 North Carson Street,
Suite #2

Carson City, NV 89701

February 5, 2001

Dear Majority Leader Raggio and Members of the
Senate:

It gives me great pleasure to join with the citizens of Carson
City to extend to you and all of the members of the Nevada State Legislature
our official greetings and warm welcome as we prepare for the start of the 2001
Legislative Session.

Our community, like so many areas of Nevada, is rich in history
and famous for its colorful past. However, Carson City is unique. No other
community in our State can boast the prestigious title of “Capital City.” This
is a designation of which we are very proud. Whether you are a first time
visitor or a veteran who has first-hand knowledge of Carson City’s distinctive
qualities, we hope our “down home, Nevada-style” hospitality will amaze and
delight you.

We would like to invite you to attend a “welcome” reception on
February 6, 2001, between 5:00-6:30 p.m. to be held at City Hall, 201 North
Carson Street. I want to assure you we are planning a relatively low key and
casual event. Our objectives are to say hello and welcome you to Carson City,
provide an opportunity to introduce you to other elected officials and city staff
and provide several displays which show our pride in a number of our recent
projects. We are easy to find as we are located next to and just north of the
Capitol and its silver dome, which can be seen for miles, representative of
government for the citizens of the Great State of Nevada.

Again, it is our pleasure to have you in our community, and we
look forward to seeing you on February 6. If there is any way we may be of
assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call on me or any member of our
city’s staff. Best wishes for a successful session and thank you for allowing
us to be your host these next four months.

Sincerely,

Ray Masayko

Mayor

MOTIONS,
RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES

By
Senator O'Connell:

Senate
Joint Resolution No. 11 of the 70th Session—Proposing to amend the Constitution
of the State of Nevada to authorize the abatement of the property tax for
certain owners of single-family residences.

Resolved
by the Senate and Assembly of the State of Nevada, Jointly,That section 1 of
article 10 of the Constitution of the State of Nevada be amended to read as
follows:

Section
1. 1. The legislature shall provide by law for a uniform and equal rate
of assessment and taxation, and shall prescribe such regulations as shall
secure a just valuation for taxation of all property, real, personal and
possessory, except mines and mining claims, which shall be assessed and taxed
only as provided in section 5 of this article.

2. Shares
of stock, bonds, mortgages, notes, bank deposits, book accounts and credits,
and securities and choses in action of like character are deemed to represent
interest in property already assessed and taxed, either in Nevada or elsewhere,
and shall be exempt.

3. The
legislature may constitute agricultural and open-space real property having a
greater value for another use than that for which it is being used, as a
separate class for taxation purposes and may provide a separate uniform plan
for appraisal and valuation of such property for assessment purposes. If such
plan is provided, the legislature shall also provide for retroactive assessment
for a period of not less than 7 years when agricultural and open-space real
property is converted to a higher use conforming to the use for which other
nearby property is used.

4. Personal
property which is moving in interstate commerce through or over the territory
of the State of Nevada, or which was consigned to a warehouse, public or
private, within the State of Nevada from outside the State of Nevada for
storage in transit to a final destination outside the State of Nevada, whether
specified when transportation begins or afterward, shall be deemed to have
acquired no situs in Nevada for purposes of taxation and shall be exempt from
taxation. Such property shall not be deprived of such exemption because while
in the warehouse the property is assembled, bound, joined, processed,
disassembled, divided, cut, broken in bulk, relabeled or repackaged.

5. The
legislature may exempt motor vehicles from the provisions of the tax required
by this section, and in lieu thereof, if such exemption is granted, shall
provide for a uniform and equal rate of assessment and taxation of motor
vehicles, which rate shall not exceed five cents on one dollar of assessed
valuation.

6. The
legislature shall provide by law for a progressive reduction in the tax upon
business inventories by 20 percent in each year following the adoption of this
provision, and after the expiration of the 4th year such inventories are exempt
from taxation. The legislature may exempt any other personal property,
including livestock.

7. No
inheritance tax shall ever be levied.

8. The
legislature may exempt by law property used for municipal, educational,
literary, scientific or other charitable purposes, or to encourage the
conservation of energy or the substitution of other sources for fossil sources
of energy.

9. No
income tax shall be levied upon the wages or personal income of natural persons.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, and except as otherwise provided in
subsection 1 of this section, taxes may be levied upon the income or revenue of
any business in whatever form it may be conducted for profit in the state.

10. The legislature may provide by law for an abatement of the tax
upon or an exemption of part of the assessed value of a single-family residence
occupied by the owner to the extent necessary to avoid severe economic hardship
to the owner of the residence.

Senator McGinness moved that the resolution be referred to the
Committee on Taxation.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Government Affairs:

Senate
Joint Resolution No. 20 of the 70th Session—Proposes to amend the Constitution
of the State of Nevada to provide requirements for the enactment of property
and sales tax exemptions.

Resolved
by the Senate and Assembly of the State of Nevada, Jointly,That
a new section, designated section 6, be added to article 10 of the Constitution
of the State of Nevada to read as follows:

Sec.
6. 1. The Legislature shall not enact an exemption
from any ad valorem tax on property or excise tax on the sale, storage, use or
consumption of tangible personal property sold at retail unless the
Legislature:

(a)
Determines that the exemption will achieve a bona fide social or economic
purpose;

(b)
Restricts the eligibility for the exemption solely to the intended
beneficiaries of the exemption;

(c)
Determines that the exemption will not have a material adverse effect on the
finances of the state or any local government that would otherwise receive
revenue from the tax from which the exemption would be granted;

(d)
Determines that the exemption will not impair adversely the ability of the
state or a unit of government to pay, when due, all interest and principal on
any outstanding bonds or any other obligations for which revenue from the tax
from which the exemption would be granted was pledged; and

(e)
Ensures that the requirements for claiming the exemption are as similar as
practicable for similar classes of taxpayers.

2. The
Legislature shall review any exemption from any tax on property or on the sale,
storage, use or consumption of tangible personal property sold at retail at
least once every 6 years to determine whether the purpose of the exemption
is still valid and that the exemption is being used effectively.

Senator
McGinness moved that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Taxation.

Motion carried.

MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR

State
of Nevada

Executive
Chamber

Carson
City, Nevada
89701

February 1, 2001

The Honorable Senator
William J. Raggio

The Honorable
Assemblyman Richard M. Perkins, Nevada Legislature,

Legislative
Building, Nevada 89701

Dear Majority Leader
Raggio And Speaker Perkins:

Attached
herewith is my message to the 71st Session of the Nevada Legislature as
required by Article 5, Section 10, of the Nevada Constitution. As you
know, I delivered the message earlier to a gathering of your colleagues and
other guests on January 22, 2001, in the Assembly Chamber in Carson City.

Allow
me to extend my sincere wishes for a productive legislative session. My staff
and I look forward to working with all of you.

Respectfully,

Kenny
C. Guinn

Governor of
Nevada

MOTIONS,
RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES

Senator Raggio moved that in accordance with the provisions of
Article 5, Section 10 of the Nevada Constitution, that Governor Guinn’s State
of the State Address to the Nevada Legislature, as presented to the special
committee to receive the Governor’s State of the State Address on
January 22, 2001 be entered in the Senate Journal for this legislative
day.

Motion carried.

State
of the State Address to the Nevada Legislature

Mr. Speaker,
Madam Lieutenant Governor, members of the Senate and Assembly, honorable
Justices of the Supreme Court, distinguished guests, and fellow Nevadans—I
would like to say good evening, and to you Colton and Hanna, thank you for
coming.

I am proud to
say the state of the State is strong. It is strong despite unique and
unprecedented changes and challenges. Our economy is healthy and prosperous.
More Nevadans are at work than ever before, and our personal income growth is
well above the national average. Nevada’s welfare rolls have declined by 60
percent in the past six years. Nevadans have gone back to work in record
numbers, earning the State a federal financial award as one of the top ten
states in the nation for welfare reform for the second year in a row. Indeed,
Nevada has much to be proud of.

For a decade now, we have led the nation in
growth. As a result of this tremendous growth, we will be given a third seat to
amplify our voice and enhance our position in Congress. We have communities
that have been made stronger by diversity and new ideas, but growth also brings
its share of challenges. Nevada’s school enrollment is increasing at three
times the national average. We lead the nation in growth of our senior
citizens. Our transportation system must constantly improve to avoid gridlock,
and our health care system is strained by ever-increasing demands placed upon
it on a day-by-day basis.

Two years ago, I stood before you in this
chamber and declared we would have to cut funding for many programs even though
the State’s revenues were growing. Social services, education, and prisons had
steadily consumed our revenues until every other facet of our State suffered
and sacrificed to pay for this growth. I knew, without change, we would soon
reach a point where the needs of an exploding population would outstrip the
growth in revenue. We had to change the way we did business in Nevada, and
change we did!

I directed the most comprehensive review of
Nevada State government in our history, and we identified numerous ways we
could cut costs and become more efficient and responsive in delivering services
to our citizens. Through those efforts, we have saved millions of dollars, and
we did not stop there.

I formed an Internal Audit Division for the Executive Branch to
identify potential problems in state government before,rather than after, they occur. This agency has also identified
hundreds of thousands of dollars of savings for the State.

We were the first state in the country to
privatize our State’s worker’s compensation program, removing more than a
thousand positions from the state payroll and taking off a $2.2 billion
liability from the state’s ledger in this great State of Nevada. We will now
save over $3 million more, every year, by self-insuring.

We maintained a hiring freeze for the past
two years, streamlining government and leaving more than 1,500 positions
unfilled or eliminated.

We also reformed our state’s group health
insurance plan, for thousands of state employees, so that it is once again
healthy and solvent.

We have fixed a long-running problem with
NOMADS, the state’s welfare computer system, which will save us millions of
dollars in federal penalties. In fact, the federal government has indicated it
will return $3.6 million to the State as early as this legislative session.
This could not have been done without the help of you as a legislative body two
years ago when we brought the problem before you and you had to face the
executive branch and our staff. Thank you very much.

We also removed the barriers to higher
education for all our children when we enacted the Millennium Scholarship.
Tonight we have six Millennium scholars with us, one from each university and
community college in the State. I invite them to stand. They are just 6 of
4,200 high achieving young Nevadans who have taken advantage of this historic
opportunity. We wish all of you a successful academic and professional career
right here in Nevada, where you belong. There are over 45 Millennium
Scholarship winners in the Senate Chamber, who could not get a ticket to be in
the well of the Assembly, and I want to thank them too for their attendance.
The Millennium Scholarship program serves as a reminder of what determination,
creativity and cooperation can produce.

I look out here this evening and see the
faces of many friends, hardworking legislators and true Nevada leaders. We are
fortunate to have the steady leadership of Bill Raggio, Joe Dini, Dina Titus,
Lynn Hettrick and Nevada’s newest Speaker, Richard Perkins. Certainly, we have
disagreed on some issues and differed in our solutions to some of the problems we
face here in our State, but we have always agreed on the importance of seeking
those solutions together. I welcome your continued cooperation, your friendship
and your advice—sometimes.

I truly appreciate your hard work and
tremendous sacrifices. Nevada owes each of you a great debt of gratitude, but
sadly, one of our hardest working lawmakers is not with us tonight, our friend
and colleague, Assemblywoman Jan Evans. I would like to take a moment to
acknowledge her commitment and friendship to so many of you and to me. In this
quiet moment, when we think about the future, I am sure we ponder many of the
same things Jan did—providing for our families, educating our children,
protecting our homes and caring for our seniors.

And although the State of Nevada is strong
and vibrant today, the challenges ahead will test our resolve and our
commitment to work together for tomorrow. Aggressive competition from tribal
gaming and the prospect of punitive federal regulations endanger our travel and
tourism industry. Far-reaching public land acquisitions and regulations
jeopardize other important industries such as mining and agriculture.
Skyrocketing energy prices threaten us all.

During this past year, I have made no secret
of my belief that Nevada must explore new revenue streams and establish a
broader economic base, so we can provide a good education to our children,
adequate health care to our families and seniors and safety for all our
citizens. As a result, many speculated that I would be forced to raise taxes. Indeed,
the State’s expenditure and long-range revenue projections show that, without
changes, Nevada will face a tremendous shortfall within eight years.

I believe, however, that with the potential
slowing of the national economy, now is not a time for new taxes, and my budget
does not contain a single tax increase. Now is a time for moderation and
restraint. I have long believed state government cannot and should not be all
things to all people. There are some things, however, that only the State can do—educate
our children, care for our seniors and protect the disadvantaged.

Tonight, I am pleased I do not come to you
with a budget full of painful reductions as I did two years ago. Instead, we
are in a position to consider new programs, as well as live up to many of our
responsibilities to our state employees, university professors, teachers and
school support staff. Tonight, we will fulfill the responsibilities that have
to be met for the good of all Nevadans—our children, the disabled and senior
citizens. This is our obligation. Our past budgetary discipline and
restructuring of our financial resources has afforded us this opportunity—to
fund programs that have been too long neglected. Let me share with you my
vision.

Since we last met, we have heard a great
deal of discussion about our State’s commitment to education. Some say we are
not doing enough, and I agree. The solution is not as simple as raising taxes,
as some have proposed, and earmarking the proceeds strictly for the purposes of
education without consideration of other programs in need of revenue.

I was taught by my father who could not read
that reading is the basis of all education. I learned this painful lesson as I
watched him suffer through those simple tasks all of us who can read take for
granted. His inability to read affected every aspect of his life and mine.

As many of you know, twenty-five years ago,
I was superintendent of Clark County schools. I am proud of many of the
programs we implemented. However, I always considered my greatest
accomplishment to be the placement of a reading specialist in every elementary
school. Before it was popular to talk about getting back to the basics, these
reading teachers knew there was nothing more basic or important than the
ability to read. We saw tremendous results with the program, and in fact, the
reading improvement teachers are still in our schools today.

Tonight, I am going back to the basics just
as I did when I was superintendent. I am establishing a new statewide goal—that
all Nevada children be able to read by the end of the third grade. To initiate
a fast start toward this goal, I am allocating $10 million for a
teacher-training program that focuses on reading techniques which have proven
successful in early grades.

Last session, we created four regional
centers for teacher training. These centers also focused on reading. This year,
I propose to increase funding for these centers by $4 million, for additional
training in reading instruction.

I will also allocate $20 million to education
technology and the purchase of textbooks for our schools. After all, Nevada
students cannot be expected to achieve more and work harder when they cannot
even take their schoolbooks home. I am also allocating another $8 million for
early childhood education—let’s get a good start—and a $7 million increase
for remediation in under-performing schools. Finally, my budget includes
another $20 million to maintain class-size ratios at the first, second and
third grades.

With your help, our children will be better
prepared, focused on the basics and will achieve more. We owe this to our
children. We owe this to our future.

This evening, you will find my education agenda focuses on the
basics: textbooks, teacher training and
reading. We must go further. We must also address our growing teacher shortage.
Tonight, I am pleased to endorse a project that addresses this shortage—the
proposed state college in Henderson. This new institution will enable us to
train more teachers than ever before. Therefore, this budget includes $16
million for capital construction, $1 million in start-up costs and another $5.8
million to fund the first year’s enrollment of a projected 1,000 students. With
your support, the state college in Henderson will become a reality, go a long way
toward ending the teacher shortage in Nevada and create an institution of
learning that produces Nevada teachers for Nevada children. Building new
colleges takes vision, patienceand
financial resources.

Make no mistake about it—next to parents and
families, teachers are the most important influence in our children’s lives.
Over the past five years, we have raised the academic bar for our children. In
doing so, we have also raised the bar for our teachers. We have demanded
accountability, as we should, but we have not given them the tools they need to
perform at the level we demand—the training, the technology and the textbooks.

In Nevada, we have not made a sufficient
commitment to teachers for a livable salary that matches the vital role they
play in our society. As a result, we are losing an unacceptable number of
teachers to other states and professions. So, in addition to the money
allocated for more training, new textbooks and technology, I am asking the
Nevada Legislature to provide a cash bonus to all Nevada teachers and school
support staff equal to 5 percent of their annual salary. My budget includes a
one-time allocation of $58 million to meet Nevada’s commitment to our teachers.
For a teacher making $40,000 a year, this will amount to $2,000—just a small
way of saying “thank you” for having met every challenge we have given them,
often without additional resources and, in some cases, even having to pay for
supplies out of their own pockets.

These are the planks of my education plan
for the coming year: a firm commitment for long overdue resources for our
teachers, a basic but bold reading program and the creation of a new college.

In total, my general fund budget includes an
increase of $98 million for K-12 education and $134 million for higher education.
In addition, we are allocating over $75 million of our one-time funding to K-12
education. Altogether, this represents a 13 percent increase over last
biennium, and the largest allocation for education in our great State’s
history. As a former teacher, superintendent and university president—and now
as your Governor—my first priority will always be to our children and their
education.

There is another group of dedicated public
employees who deserve recognition this evening—the loyal employees who work
hard to serve the State’s citizens and who are often the best guardians of
taxpayer dollars—Nevada’s state workers. Two years ago, I challenged state
employees to find new and innovative ways to save money and make the State more
efficient. They responded, and for that, I say thank you.

I would like to ask George Simecek to stand.
George is a plumber at University of Nevada, Reno, who has been with the State
since 1978. George identified a retrofitting need on the campus, and he
recently completed the project—providing the State with a one-time savings of
$310,000 plus saving additional, ongoing maintenance costs. George is not the
only employee who has used his knowledge, experience and dedication to save our
State money. There are many more whose efforts will never be known by the
general public. These are good people whose talents we simply cannot afford to
lose.

Over the past decade, state employees have
gone without adequate pay increases. The result has been escalating turnover in
almost every department. As a result, we have a steady stream of good state
workers leaving for more lucrative jobs with cities, counties and the private
sector. We lose their valuable experience and abilities, and then we spend more
money recruiting and training their replacements. And the costly cycle
continues.

We cannot afford to lose these employees.
For example, the dramatic turnaround at the Department of Motor Vehicles was
prompted by employees who created new programs, such as Internet registration.
Try it, you’ll like it! They also worked long hours to improve service and
reduce waiting lines to less than an hour.

Tonight, I am proposing a responsible cost
of living allowance for our state employees, an 8 percent increase over
the biennium, 4 percent in the first year and 4 percent in the second year. I
no longer want them to choose between serving the State or protecting their
families’ financial future. State employment is a privilege, but it should not
be a sacrifice.

It is not enough to invest in our employees,
however. We must invest in the health and welfare of all our people, all
Nevadans.

As your Governor, I believe we must measure success by how we are
able to care for the most fragile of our citizens—our children, our elderly and
those who are disabled. We cannot afford to do everything, but there are some
things we cannot afford not to
do.

Therefore, I am proposing to
double the funding that helps physically disabled Nevadans stay in their
homes—stay in their homes with their families. In addition, my proposed
increases in services to the developmentally disabled will eliminate all
waiting lists for community-based services for these citizens.

Furthermore, I am urging the creation of the
Office of Disability Resources which will combine several existing services in
one location. The office will be responsible for creating a long-range plan to
better provide services to individuals of all ages with disabilities.

Finally, we will use federal grant money to
develop policies and infrastructure that will allow the disabled to go to work
without risking the loss of Medicaid or Medicare health coverage.

With the fastest growing senior population
in the nation, Nevada must plan ahead. Therefore, I am requesting funding to
study alternative living support, long-term care and other programs to address
our seniors’ needs effectively and efficiently in the future. For those seniors
who need our help today, I propose to increase Medicaid waivers by 40 percent
to allow seniors to live in their communities and homes rather than hospitals.
We need our seniors at home!

I am also asking the
Legislature to approve a $6 million allowance for cervical and breast cancer
coverage for uninsured women which we do not have at this time. We will include
in this budget $10 million to eliminate the assets test for the Medicaid Child
Health Assurance Program and streamline Medicaid benefits for pregnant women.
It is simple: we have been embarrassingly behind in these crucial health
services for too long. It is time to change, and change we will.

My budget also includes a substantial increase in funding for
Nevada Check-Up, our health insurance program for children of low-income
families. Our outreach efforts in the past two years have been extremely
successful, just two years ago we had less than 2,000 young people in our
program, and now, we expect to enroll 24,000 children by the end of the next
biennium. In addition, I am establishing a $5 million fund to help working,
uninsured families obtain basic health care coverage because access to
affordable health care is crucial to all Nevada families.

This budget is one that works to support our
Nevada families because we must encourage programs that keep our families
together and healthy. In many cases, a child is removed from his or her natural
family. It is a traumatic experience with far-reaching consequences to the
health and welfare of that child. In Nevada, the situation is made even more
difficult because the child welfare system is confusing and bogged down in
bureaucracy between the State and the counties.

Overall, my budget includes $86 million to
support improvement of our statewide child welfare programs and to provide
service at the local level—where it should be. I believe the best service to
the child is the service closest to the child, and children who are victims of
neglect, abuse or abandonment must not also be victims of bureaucracy. They
deserve our devoted attention, not our divided attention. We will work with the
counties and legislative body to transfer this money and these programs to the
local level so our children will have the best chance, the chance they need in
their young lives.

Finally, with the Legislature’s help, I will
expand Senior Rx, a program that addresses one of the most compelling needs
faced by Nevada’s senior citizens—prescription drug coverage.

Two years ago, the Nevada Legislature voted
unanimously to provide a subsidized prescription drug insurance plan for the
State’s neediest seniors. Senior Rx was enacted while others argued about the
issue. While Congress bickered, we
acted.

I am proud to say that as of this month, we
have received 1,400 applications for Senior Rx. Some of those who are already
enrolled in the program are with us tonight. I would like to ask them to stand.
Please join me in giving them a warm welcome.

Some seniors in this program will save
hundreds of dollars a month. For others, this program is not about savings—it
is about the difference between receiving needed medicine or doing without. I
am proud to say tonight that Senior Rx is working, and we must expand it. It is
time to offer these life-saving benefits to more Nevadans in need.

Another challenge that faces
Nevada’s senior citizens and, in fact, all of us, is the soaring cost of
energy. Electric utility restructuring in California is, in the words of
Governor Gray Davis, a “colossal and dangerous failure.” Electricity rates have
risen more than 300 percent, and in some areas, there have been power shortages
and blackouts. We must learn from the mistakes in California, so we never
repeat their mistakes.

In 1997 and again in 1999, our Legislature
approved deregulation for Nevada. Last session, however, the Legislature
recognized there were problems on the horizon, and they gave me the authority
to delay deregulation. Twice I have looked at the situation, twice considered
the consequences and twice said “no” to implementing deregulation.

Last October, I appointed a 17-member,
bipartisan committee to examine the State’s energy situation. This group
recently issued its recommendations and findings which clearly indicate there
are serious problems with deregulation in Nevada.

Over the next few weeks, I will
be reviewing those recommendations and any new proposals from the Legislature.
But let me be very clear—I cannot and will not support deregulation until I am
assured power supplies are secure and those who would be hardest hit by rate
increases are protected.

Even without deregulation,
consumer energy bills will continue to rise because of short supply, increased
demand and high prices for natural gas and oil. This will impact all of us to
some degree, but for those Nevadans who live on low or fixed incomes, it will
be catastrophic.

So tonight, I am proposing a $5 million fund
to help those who will be hit hardest by rising energy costs. This emergency
Energy Assistance Fund will create a safety net for low-income Nevadans, so
they can afford to pay utility bills without undue hardship.

We have covered a lot of issues
tonight—education, health care and senior services. However, there is one issue
that looms over all of them.

I am talking about the single greatest
threat to the health and safety of the people of this State—the prospect of
Nevada becoming the nation’s nuclear waste dumping ground. It is an issue that
unites Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, urban and rural
counties and all of us who care about the future of Nevada. We have fought this
battle together for many years and on many fronts. Yet, the nuclear power
industry is as determined as ever to target our State.

Tonight, I am announcing we will match that
determination with an unprecedented dedication of funds. For the first time in
our long fight against nuclear waste, we will dedicate $5 million to fight the
Department of Energy and those in Congress who are determined to make Nevada
the nation’s nuclear waste dump.

I will also ask each city and county, as
well as the private sector, to contribute money to this vital endeavor.
Although much has been done individually throughout our State by citizens and
communities, I believe we will only succeed by uniting our efforts. We must
make that united front.

We can no longer be dependent upon federal
dollars—dollars that can be taken away from us, jerked away from us, when we do
not play by the nuclear industry’s rules. With this $5 million, we will launch
a media campaign to rally our neighboring states. The transportation of nuclear
waste is a danger to everyone, and we must have those other states join us in
this great fight for our survival. We will continue to pursue all legal
avenues. We will expose the unprincipled tactics used by the industry in their
attempt to force us to accept this deadly waste.

We will join with our neighbor state, Utah,
in a coordinated stand against nuclear waste transportation. I have asked
Utah’s governor, Mike Leavitt, to join me in fighting to leave nuclear waste
where it was created, not ship it to us. He agreed, and he has already included
more than one million dollars in his budget to join us in this ongoing battle.
We will leave no fight abandoned, and we will prevail.

As we all know, the nation has
just emerged from an unforgettable campaign season that represented both the
best and the worst of politics. One lesson we have learned is that we must work
together, in a bipartisan spirit, to accomplish the public’s business and to
maintain the public’s trust.

I do not agree with those who contend that
we are a nation and a state that stands divided. While we disagree on some of
the solutions to the many challenges we face, we certainly agree on what those
challenges are and how important it is that we find solutions together.

We have a vibrant and beautiful state that
in many ways is the envy of our neighbors. We enjoy an independent lifestyle,
moderate taxes, a bustling business sector, abundant wide-open spaces and
opportunities limited only by the depth of our ingenuity. As your Governor,
nothing is more important to me than protecting our way of life, expanding our
opportunities and meeting our obligations.

After two years, Dema and I remain honored
that I was elected to this office. I am proud to be your Governor, and Dema is
proud to be called the First Lady.

In 137 years, Nevada has changed a great
deal. However, I marvel at how much the State has stayed the same, and how much
our new citizens, who come to us from every state in the nation, are much like
Nevadans of old.

One of our State’s most accomplished
writers, Robert Laxalt, compared the spirit of Nevadans to the state flower,
the sagebrush, when he said: “They are hardy and resilient, stubborn and
independent, restrained by environment, and yet able to grow free.” So tonight
we come to you with a firm resolve to protect Nevada’s needs; a resolve to
create an historic fund to fight deadly nuclear waste; a resolve to achieve
financial stability in an unpredictable economy without new taxes; a resolve to
pay our State employees a livable wage; a resolve to protect our citizens from
escalating energy costs; a resolve to provide adequate health care and peace of
mind to our Nevada seniors and a resolve to put more money in education for
students and teachers than ever before in this State’s history. I am confident
that these great goals will be reached together as one people, step by step, always
moving forward and always gaining ground.

I want to thank you and say good evening to you and have a safe
trip home.

INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING AND REFERENCE

By Senator Amodei:

Senate Bill No. 2—AN ACT relating to insurance; requiring a
provider of coverage for prescription drugs to disclose certain information
regarding the use of a formulary; prohibiting such a provider from limiting or
excluding coverage for a prescribed drug under certain circumstances; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Commerce and Labor:

Senate Bill No. 3—AN ACT relating to industrial insurance;
revising the requirements for a group of employers to qualify as an association
of self-insured private employers; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By Senator Townsend:

Senate Bill No. 4—AN ACT relating to insurance; providing that a
competitive market exists for certain types of insurance unless the
commissioner of insurance specifically finds to the contrary; revising the
provisions governing the filing and approval of rates of insurers in a
competitive market; authorizing the commissioner to require certain insurers to
file additional supporting data; providing for the issuance by the commissioner
of orders to discontinue a rate; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By
Senator O'Donnell:

Senate Bill No. 5—AN ACT relating to service contracts; providing
that a provision for automatic renewal in such a contract is unenforceable
against the person receiving the service except under certain circumstances;
and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By Senator Washington:

Senate Bill No. 6—AN ACT relating to property insurance;
prohibiting a lender from requiring that a borrower insure an improvement to
real property for more than its replacement value as a condition of obtaining or
maintaining a loan secured by real property; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By Senator Wiener:

Senate Bill No. 7—AN ACT relating to children, authorizing
director of juvenile services to create and administer a fund to finance a
program of restitution through work; limiting the amount that may be deducted
from the wages of a child in a program of restitution through work; authorizing
a director of juvenile services to create and administer a fund to finance a
program of cognitive training and human development; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Taxation:

Senate Bill No. 8—AN ACT relating to long-term care; directing
the Legislative Commission to appoint a subcommittee to continue the study of
long-term care in this state; authorizing the subcommittee to appoint an
advisory committee; requiring the subcommittee to employ a consultant; making
an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By Senator Amodei and Assemblyman Dini:

Senate Bill No. 9—AN ACT making an appropriation to the Tricounty
Railway Commission of Carson City and Lyon and Storey counties, or its
successor in interest, for reconstruction of the railroad line from Virginia
City to Carson City; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By Senator Amodei and Assemblyman Dini:

Senate Bill No. 10—AN ACT making an appropriation from the state
highway fund to the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety for the
creation and maintenance of a branch office in Fernley; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By Senator Mathews and Assemblyman Anderson:

Senate Bill No. 11—AN ACT relating to the public employees’
retirement system; reducing the number of years of service required for the
retirement of a police officer or a fireman at any age; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Finance:

Senate Bill No. 12—AN ACT making an appropriation to the ALS
Association Nevada Chapter for the provision of services to patients with ALS
and to help finance the finding of a cure for ALS; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By Senator Rhoads:

Senate Bill No. 13—AN ACT relating to the control of weeds;
providing for the administration of a program to provide grants for the local
treatment and control of invasive species of weeds that are not native to
Nevada; making appropriations to carry out the program; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By Senator Rhoads:

Senate Bill No. 14—AN ACT making an appropriation to the
Department of Education for vocational student organizations; and providing
other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator Rhoads:

Senate Bill No. 16—AN ACT relating to real property; requiring
the seller of a home or improved lot that is adjacent to open range to disclose
to the purchaser information regarding grazing on open range; and providing
other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Human Resources and Facilities.

Motion carried.

By Senator Washington:

Senate Bill No. 18—AN ACT relating to family law; requiring the
court to impose sanctions in certain circumstances against a person who files
an application for an order for protection against domestic violence containing
a false or intentionally misleading statement concerning the adverse party;
requiring the court under certain circumstances to order additional visitation
with a child; requiring the court to consider certain factors before awarding
custody of a child to a parent or other person; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator Washington:

Senate Bill No. 19—AN ACT relating to liens; providing that a
person who repairs appliances and electronics has a lien for the work performed
and the materials furnished in repairing the appliances and electronics; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator Washington:

Senate Bill No. 20—AN ACT relating to weapons; authorizing a
person who is not a resident of this state to carry a concealed firearm in this
state under certain circumstances; revising the provisions governing the type
of concealed firearm that the holder of a permit to carry a concealed firearm
may carry; making various other changes to the provisions governing a permit to
carry a concealed firearm; providing that certain peace officers must be
allowed to purchase badges indicating that they are honorably retired and
therefore exempt from certain laws pertaining to weapons; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator O'Donnell:

Senate Bill No. 21—AN ACT relating to children; establishing a
preference for the adoption of a child of a minor parent by relatives of the
child; providing that a minor parent may consent to a specific adoption; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator Townsend:

Senate Bill No. 22—AN ACT relating to public works; increasing
the total amount of money that may be committed beyond the biennium for all
contracts for retrofitting state buildings for energy efficiency; authorizing a
state or local agency whose building has been retrofitted for energy efficiency
to use money saved from such retrofitting to purchase electricity from
renewable energy systems; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Government Affairs.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By Senator Carlton:

Senate Bill No. 24—AN ACT relating to employment practices;
prohibiting an employer from taking disciplinary action against an employee who
refuses to work before or after his scheduled time; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By Senator O'Connell (by request):

Senate Bill No. 25—AN ACT relating to domestic relations;
revising the provisions governing the granting of rights to visitation with a
child to persons other than the parents of the child; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator O'Donnell:

Senate Bill No. 26—AN ACT relating to aviation; creating the fund
for aviation; providing for the administration and expenditure of the money in
the fund for certain purposes relating to airports, landing areas and air
navigation facilities that are owned or controlled by a county, city or other
local government; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Transportation.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Government Affairs.

Motion carried.

By Senator Amodei:

Senate Bill No. 28—AN ACT relating to health insurance; providing
in skeleton form for the formation of associations of self-insured private
employers to provide health coverage; imposing certain requirements upon such
an association and its board of trustees; prohibiting certain acts without a
solicitor’s permit issued by the commissioner of insurance; authorizing the
commissioner of insurance to impose an administrative fine for certain
violations; imposing certain requirements upon a third-party administrator for
such an association; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 29—AN ACT relating to statutes; ratifying
technical corrections made to sections of NRS and to multiple amendments of
sections of NRS; correcting the effective date of, correcting certain
provisions in and repealing certain provisions in Statutes of Nevada; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator O'Connell:

Senate Bill No. 30—AN ACT relating to wildlife; eliminating the
division of wildlife of the state department of conservation and natural
resources; creating the department of fish and game; changing the
classification of a mountain lion from a big game mammal to an unprotected
mammal; increasing the number of members of the board of wildlife commissioners
who may be from certain counties; increasing fees for big game tags; requiring
that money collected from the increase in fees for big game tags be used only
for the management of predatory animals; making an appropriation to the department
of fish and game for the purpose of managing predatory animals; and providing
other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By Senator Carlton:

Senate Bill No. 31—AN ACT relating to crimes; providing an
enhanced penalty for the assault or battery of an employee of the state or a
political subdivision of the state whose official duties require home visits;
providing enhanced penalties for the assault or battery of certain persons by a
probationer, prisoner or parolee; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator Care:

Senate Bill No. 32—AN ACT relating to proceedings; allowing a
witness to testify at a preliminary examination or before the grand jury
through the use of audiovisual technology under certain circumstances; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 33—AN ACT relating to probate; providing for a
declaration of attesting witnesses to a will; revising provisions governing the
appeal of a contest of a will; revising provisions governing the summary
administration of an estate; providing for the application of certain
provisions governing estates to provisions governing trusts; revising various
other provisions governing probate; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 34—AN ACT relating to guardianship; providing
that certain petitions for the appointment of a temporary guardian must include
a certificate from a physician or psychologist evidencing certain facts; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 35—AN ACT relating to child support; increasing
the maximum monthly amount that a parent may be required to pay for support of
a child; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 36—AN ACT relating to forfeitures; changing the
standard of proof in a proceeding for the forfeiture of property; and providing
other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator Townsend:

Senate Bill No. 38—AN ACT relating to the Airport Authority of
Washoe County; revising the provisions governing the appointment of the members
of the board of trustees; exempting the Authority from certain requirements
concerning concession agreements; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Government Affairs.

Motion carried.

By Senator Townsend:

Senate Bill No. 39—AN ACT relating to taxation; expanding the
purposes for which the proceeds of certain taxes on fuel for jet or
turbine-powered aircraft may be used by a governmental entity; and providing
other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on
Taxation.

Motion carried.

By Senator Washington:

Senate Bill No. 40—AN ACT relating to education; making
appropriations to the Department of Administration for allocation to the Board
of Regents of the University of Nevada to provide scholarships for students who
are disadvantaged and underrepresented in medical and dental schools within the
University of Nevada; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By Senator Jacobsen:

Senate Bill No. 41—AN ACT making an appropriation to the Carson
City Fire Department for the enhancement of the Northern Nevada Regional Fire
Training Facility; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By Senator Jacobsen:

Senate Bill No. 42—AN ACT relating to domestic relations; adding
adultery to the list of causes for divorce; adding adultery to the list of
factors that a court must consider when determining the best interest of a
child in a custody proceeding; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.

Senators Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator Washington:

Senate Bill No. 43—AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; eliminating
the requirements relating to driver education or training for the issuance of a
driver’s license to certain persons; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Transportation.

Motion carried.

By Senator Schneider:

Senate Bill No. 44—AN ACT relating to industrial insurance;
defining the term “construction project” for the purpose of a consolidated
insurance program; limiting the type of construction project that may be
insured through a consolidated insurance program; prohibiting a consolidated
insurance program from covering more than one construction project; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 45—AN ACT relating to marks; providing remedies
to the owner of a mark for the dilution of the mark; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 46—AN ACT relating to the secretary of state;
increasing the maximum fee the secretary of state may charge for providing
special services; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Government Affairs.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 47—AN ACT relating to minors; providing for the
judicial approval of certain contracts for the artistic, creative or athletic
services or intellectual property of minors; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.

Senator
Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 48—AN ACT relating to technology; prohibiting
various acts related to the Internet, networks, computers and electronic mail;
prohibiting, under certain circumstances, persons who own, operate, administer
or control an Internet or network site from collecting personal identifying
information from persons who access the site; prohibiting a person from
committing certain acts that prevent, impede, delay or disrupt the normal
operation or use of any Internet or network site, electronic mail address,
computer, system or network; allowing victims of certain technological crimes
to recover response costs in a civil action; providing penalties; and providing
other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 49—AN ACT relating to electronic transactions;
adopting the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; making various related
changes pertaining to the use of electronic records and signatures; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 50—AN ACT relating to trade secrets; providing
that a trade secret which is misappropriated and posted on the Internet remains
a trade secret under certain circumstances; authorizing a court to issue an
order or injunction requiring the immediate removal of a misappropriated trade
secret from the Internet; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Judiciary:

Senate Bill No. 51—AN ACT relating to business associations;
providing for the decrease of issued and outstanding shares of stock in certain
circumstances; providing for the voting rights of fiduciaries and joint owners
of stock; revising provisions governing the forfeiture of stock by delinquent
subscribers; providing for the registration and management of foreign
limited-liability companies; revising provisions governing the merger,
conversion and exchange of business entities; providing for the domestication
of certain foreign business entities; making various other changes pertaining
to business associations; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and Labor.

Motion carried.

By Senator Rawson:

Senate Bill No. 54—AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; providing
for the issuance of special license plates for the support of the rights of
animals, including support for the activities of People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals or its successor; imposing a fee for the issuance or
renewal of such license plates; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Transportation.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Human Resources and Facilities:

Senate Bill No. 55—AN ACT relating to the Western Interstate
Commission for Higher Education; requiring the collection of an application fee
to receive financial support from the commission; revising the conditions under
which such support may be granted; eliminating the limitation placed on the
amount of such support; authorizing money in the commission’s fund for student
loans to be used for administrative expenses; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Human Resources and Facilities.

Motion carried.

By Senator O'Donnell:

Senate Bill No. 56—AN ACT relating to transportation; revising
the composition of the board of directors of the department of transportation
and of certain regional transportation commissions; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Transportation.

Motion carried.

By Senator Carlton:

Senate Bill No. 57—AN ACT relating to legislators; prohibiting a
private contract of employment that provides for a loss of job seniority for a
legislator because of the legislator’s attendance at certain meetings,
conferences and seminars during the legislative interim; requiring public and
private employers to grant leave for employees who are legislators to attend
certain meetings, conferences and seminars during the legislative interim; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Legislative Affairs and Operations.

Motion carried.

By Senator Townsend:

Senate Bill No. 58—AN ACT relating to the state executive
department; creating the Nevada commission on children and families;
establishing its powers and duties; requiring the director of the department of
human resources to provide certain staff assistance to the commission; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Government Affairs.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Taxation.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Government Affairs:

Senate Bill No. 60—AN ACT relating to local governments;
restricting the amount a local government may place in an enterprise fund for
building permit fees; authorizing a local government to maintain an amount of
working capital in such an enterprise fund for certain purposes; requiring a
local government to reduce the building permit fees it charges if an excess
amount is maintained in such an enterprise fund for a certain period; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Government Affairs.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Government Affairs:

Senate Bill No. 61—AN ACT relating to public works projects;
authorizing certain public bodies to contract with a design-build team for
certain public works projects; removing certain requirements for providing
notice of certain hearings; removing certain requirements for advertising for
preliminary proposals from design-build teams for certain projects; changing
certain requirements for the contents of a request for preliminary proposals;
authorizing a public body and the department of transportation to select
finalists for submitting a final proposal within a certain period; requiring a
public body and the department of transportation to consider the degree to which
a preliminary proposal is responsive to certain requirements when selecting
finalists; changing certain requirements for a request for final proposals;
removing the date for expiration of provisions relating to the use of
design-build teams on public works projects; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Government Affairs.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Government Affairs:

Senate Bill No. 63—AN ACT relating to public works projects;
authorizing public bodies and local governments to award contracts for certain
public works projects to specialty contractors; specifying that certain
requirements for receiving a certificate for preference in bidding must be
satisfied while licensed as a general contractor or specialty contractor;
requiring the state contractor’s board to issue a certificate of eligibility to
receive a preference in bidding to a specialty contractor under certain
circumstances; allowing general contractors and specialty contractors to
receive a preference for bidding on public works by purchasing a contractor
that possesses such a preference; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Government Affairs.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Taxation.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Government Affairs:

Senate Bill No. 65—AN ACT relating to the state legislature;
changing the name of the legislative committee to study distribution among
local governments of revenue from state and local taxes to the legislative
committee for local government taxes and finances; extending the study by the
committee of the system of taxation of certain businesses that are centrally or
locally assessed; extending the date for expiration of the committee and
certain statutory provisions relating thereto; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Legislative Affairs and Operations.

Motion carried.

By Senator Rawson:

Senate Bill No. 66—AN ACT making an appropriation to the Division
of Museums and History of the Department of Museums, Library and Arts for the
development and construction of a state museum in Southern Nevada; and
providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Human Resources and Facilities:

Senate Bill No. 67—AN ACT making an appropriation to the Clark
County School District to conduct a pilot program to carry out a rotating block
schedule in selected middle and high schools in Clark County; and providing
other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Finance:

Senate Bill No. 68—AN ACT making a contingent appropriation to
Carson City to assist in the construction of a three-story public parking
garage in downtown Carson City; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Finance:

Senate Bill No. 69—AN ACT relating to educational personnel;
requiring the boards of trustees of school districts to pay increased salaries
to teachers who provide instruction in a field of mathematics or science and to
teachers who provide instruction to pupils with disabilities; requiring the
state board of education to adopt regulations identifying the endorsements in
the fields of mathematics or science that qualify a teacher to receive an
increase in salary; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Finance.

Motion carried.

By Senator Amodei:

Senate Bill No. 70—AN ACT relating to taxation; revising the
provisions governing the classification of manufactured homes as real property
for the purpose of property taxes; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Taxation.

Motion carried.

By Senator Jacobsen:

Senate Bill No. 71—AN ACT relating to taxes on retail sales;
providing for the submission to the voters of the question whether the Sales
and Use Tax Act of 1955 should be amended to provide an exemption from the tax
for liquefied petroleum gas used for additional domestic purposes; contingently
providing the same exemption from certain analogous taxes; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Taxation.

Motion carried.

By Senator Jacobsen:

Senate Bill No. 72—AN ACT relating to cigarettes; revising the
definition of “basic cost of cigarettes” for the purposes of the regulation of
sales of cigarettes by wholesale dealers; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Taxation.

Motion carried.

By the Committee on Human Resources and Facilities:

Senate Bill No. 73—AN ACT relating to education; requiring the
state board of education to prescribe a form for use by public schools to
provide reports to parents and legal guardians regarding the involvement of the
parents and legal guardians in the education of their children; requiring the
use of the form in public schools; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Human Resources and Facilities.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Human Resources and Facilities.

Motion carried.

By Senator Amodei:

Senate Bill No. 75—AN ACT relating to state printing; clarifying
the employment classification of the employees of the state printing division;
and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Government Affairs.

Motion carried.

By Senator Amodei:

Senate Bill No. 76—AN ACT relating to correctional officers;
requiring correctional officers employed by the department of prisons to
complete a program for facility training; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.

Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

Motion carried.

By Senator Amodei and Assemblyman Dini:

Senate Bill No. 77—AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; providing
for the issuance of special license plates for the support of the
reconstruction of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad; providing for the
issuance of souvenir license plates that indicate support for the
reconstruction of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad; imposing a fee for the
issuance or renewal of special license plates to finance the reconstruction of
the Virginia & Truckee Railroad; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.

Senator
Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Transportation.

Motion carried.

MOTIONS,
RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES

Madam President announced that the
following standing committees had been appointed, first-named Senator being
chairman and the second-named Senator being vice-chairman.

COMMERCE AND LABOR—

Townsend,
O'Connell, Rhoads, Amodei, Shaffer, Schneider, Carlton.

FINANCE—

Raggio,
Rawson, Jacobsen, O'Donnell, Neal, Coffin, Mathews.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS—

O'Connell,
Raggio, O'Donnell, Porter, Neal, Titus, Care.

HUMAN RESOURCES AND FACILITIES—

Rawson,
Washington, Townsend, Amodei, Mathews, Schneider, Wiener.

JUDICIARY—

James,
Porter, McGinness, Washington, Titus, Wiener, Care.

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND OPERATIONS—

Porter,
James, Raggio, Rawson, Titus, Mathews, Wiener.

NATURAL RESOURCES—

Rhoads,
Jacobsen, McGinness, James, Shaffer, Coffin, Carlton.

TAXATION—

McGinness,
Rhoads, Townsend, O'Connell, Neal, Coffin, Schneider.

TRANSPORTATION—

O'Donnell, Amodei, Jacobsen, Washington, Shaffer, Care, Carlton.

GUESTS
EXTENDED PRIVILEGE OF SENATE FLOOR

On request of President Hunt, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Rennie Schreiber, Kris Absher, Pat
Phillips, Judy Cox, Susan Fink and Jan Hunt.

On request of Senator Amodei, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Michelle Amodei and Joy Amodei.

On request of Senator Care, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Jenny Care, Diana Care, Millie
Hitson, Steve Renner and Judy Toscano.

On request of Senator Carlton, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Lynsey Coffman.

On request of Senator Jacobsen, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Betty Jacobsen, Beverly Willard and
Joan Thran.

On request of Senator James, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Lori James, Annie James, John
James, Mr. John James and Lois James.

On request of Senator McGinness, the privilege of the floor of
the Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Dee McGinness, Brett McGinness,
Sara Smith, Lynn Pearce, Shelly Pearce, Alex Pearce, Taylor Pearce and Kirby
Pearce.

On request of Senator Neal, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Marieta Vaughan.

On request of Senator O'Connell, the privilege of the floor of
the Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Bob O’Connell.

On request of Senator Porter, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Laurie Porter, Chris Porter, Nicole
Porter, Michaun Jensen and Chief Bob Sears.

On request of Senator Raggio, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Tracey Raggio Woodring, Summer
Fernandez, Brad Woodring, Dorothy Souza, Lela Rude and Jane Welsh.

On request of Senator Rawson, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Linda Rawson and Linda Chapman.

On request of Senator Rhoads, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Sharon Rhoads, Joe Cahill, Chandra
Cahill, Shammy McLain, Malachi McLain, Teldon McLain, Paul Goodall, Shirly
Goodall and P.C. Goodall.

On request of Senator Schneider, the privilege of the floor of
the Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Candy Schneider.

On request of Senator Shaffer, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Sharon Shaffer, Diane Shaffer, Ryan
Shaffer, Tink Shaffer and Sandy Arraiz.

On request of Senator Titus, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Hazel Wong, Mark Nash and
Thomas C. Wright.

On request of Senator Townsend, the privilege of the floor of the
Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Shari Asay.

Before adjourning in memory
of Mary Ellen Patt who passed away during the interim, I would like to make
some brief remarks. Mary Ellen began her Senate service in 1985 in Clerical
Services. In 1989, she began her tenure as Front Desk Recording Clerk, a position
she held until the 1999 Legislative Session.

In honor of
Mary Ellen, the Front Desk staff who had the opportunity and pleasure to work
with her are wearing a special piece of jewelry that she had given to each of
them prior to her passing.

Senator Raggio moved that the Senate adjourn
until Tuesday, February 6, 2001 at 11 a.m. and that it do so in memory of Mary
Ellen Patt and in memory of Jan Evans as requested by Senator O'Connell.